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University of Southampton: Arts and Cultural Leadership
| Institution | University of Southampton View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | Winchester School of Art |
| Web | www.southampton.ac.uk/postgraduate |
| AdmissionsPGT.AH@soton.ac.uk | |
| Telephone | 023 8059 4732 |
| Study type | Taught |
MA
Summary
About this course Embark on the MA Arts and Cultural Leadership degree to explore and shape the role of arts and culture as a creative and critical change-making and futures-making practice. This course will immerse you in international, decolonial, intersectional, and emerging perspectives on cultural leadership. You'll probe vital topics such as ethical decision-making, marketing, fundraising, power structures, audience engagement, project management, and the role of arts in advancing social and environmental justice, creative health, and wellbeing. The MA is built upon core values of social justice, sustainability, and equity and belonging.
We are ranked 8th in the UK for research quality (Complete University Guide 2026).
Your future career You'll develop a robust set of subject-specific and employability skills, including Research, Critical Thinking, Commercial Awareness, Leadership, Communication, and EDI leadership. Graduates commonly pursue careers in a wide range of sectors and organisations, including: Events Venues, Local Council Libraries, universities, Education Providers, Museums, Galleries, Media groups, and local/national government. Direct career pathways include becoming an Artistic Director, Museum Curator, Gallery Curator, Cultural Strategist, Heritage Consultant, Exhibition Executive, or Arts Administrator. As a graduate from a top 20 UK university for employability*, you'll be well-prepared for your next step.
Key features of this course At Southampton you'll:
• Critically and creatively explore the possibilities of cultural leadership through the programme's values of social justice, sustainability, and equity and belonging. • Gain hands-on experience by co-designing a live project with a range of UK and international partners and collaborators. • Engage directly with the University's leading cultural venues, the John Hansard Gallery and Turner Sims concert hall. • Undertake study visits to reflect on leadership issues and best practices in different live contexts. • Learn from and with cutting-edge researchers and practitioners who are leading international and emerging perspectives in the field.
Further information This master's degree offers a unique balance between collaboration with external partners and independent work, allowing you to pursue research questions relevant to your career specialisms. The critical analysis and applied practice of cultural leadership are integrated across the whole programme, rather than being confined to specific modules. Based in a vibrant and creative art school environment, you'll also have the opportunity to make interdisciplinary connections and extend your specialism through an Option module.
*Complete University Guide Graduate Prospects Ranking 2026.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | You'll need a 2.2 degree in curting, art, humanities, marketing, management, design, social sciences, communication, music, languages, broadcasting, education, performing arts, business, psychology, law, geography. |
| Location | Winchester School of Art Park Avenue Winchester SO23 8DL |
Fees
| Republic of Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| EU | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
| England | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| International | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
Summary
"The MA Arts and Cultural Leadership, is an innovative one-year programme. Through engaging with diverse industry partners, and exploring concepts and creative practices, you will understand and shape the role of arts and culture as a creative andcritical change-making and futures-making practice.
You'll examine international decolonial, intersectional and emerging perspectives on arts and cultural leadership to probe: ethical decision-making, marketing and fundraising practices; tools to unpack power, governance and organising; audience engagement and participation, project management and evaluation; the role of arts and culture in advancing discourse and action in social and environmental justice; creative health and wellbeing
The course is balanced between collaborating with external partners and working independently to pursue questions and methodologies relevant for your research and career specialisms. Based in a vibrant and creative art school environment, you will have access to digital resources to develop academic and professional skills.
Through the Option module, you will be able to make interdisciplinary connections and extend your specialism.
Highlights: Critically and creatively explore the possibilities of ‘arts and cultural leadership’ through the programme’s values of social justice, sustainability, and equity and belonging; Examine a diverse range of arts and cultural ideas, debates, practices and organisations (formal, informal, emerging); Learn from and with cutting-edge researchers and practitioners, including the teaching team who are leading international, decolonial, intersectional and emerging perspectives on arts and cultural leadership; Engage with the University's John Hansard Gallery and Turner Sims concert hall; Co-design a live project with an exciting range of UK and international partners and collaborators; Undertake study visits to reflect on arts and cultural leadership issues and best practices in different live contexts;"
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | "You’ll need a 2:1 degree in a relevant subject such as: advertising |
| Location | Winchester School of Art Park Avenue Winchester SO23 8DL |
Fees
| Republic of Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| EU | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
| England | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| International | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
Summary
Explore our specialist arts campus:
One of only a few specialist art schools in the Russell Group, you’ll be inspired to create in our purpose built studios and workshops and learn with expert creative practitioners at Winchester School of Art (WSA), part our University of Southampton community and just one hour from London. You’ll have industry exposure through guest lectures, work on live project briefs, and explore work internships where graduates have gone on to set up their own design labels or work at prestigious brands across the globe including Selfridges, Saatchi & Saatchi, Alexander McQueen, Burberry, ASOS, Nike and Apple.
Through the MA Arts and Cultural Leadership, you will engage with a diverse network of partners to understand and shape the role of arts and culture in society.
You'll examine international perspectives on arts and cultural management and leadership to explore:
ethical decision-making governance organisations and roles marketing fundraising audiences project management and evaluation
The course is balanced between collaborating with external partners and working independently to pursue questions and methodologies relevant for your research and career specialisms. Based in a vibrant and creative art school environment, you will have access to digital resources to develop academic and professional skills.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Lower second-class degree or above, or an equivalent standard in other qualifications approved by the University. |
| Location | Winchester School of Art Park Avenue Winchester SO23 8DL |
Fees
| Republic of Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
|---|---|
| EU | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
| England | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Northern Ireland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Scotland | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Wales | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| Channel Islands | 9250 GBP for Year 1 |
| International | 22136 GBP for Year 1 |
Visit us at a postgraduate open event
Study your postgraduate degree at the University of Southampton, a Russell Group university ranked in the top 17 in the UK* and 87th among global universities**.
Benefit from an excellent learning experience
Choose from over 200 taught master’s degrees or join one of over 90 research groups in a range of disciplines:
- Arts and Humanities: archaeology, art, English, film, history, modern languages, music and philosophy
- Engineering and Physical Sciences: chemistry, electronics and computer science, engineering, physics and astronomy, and photonics and nanoelectronics
- Environmental and Life Sciences: …
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