Cultural Policy and Management

Overview

The Honours can be taken part-time or full-time. Part-time for two years and in the first year you complete 2 courses, one in semester 1 and another in semester 2. The following year the same applies with the additional requirement of completing a research long essay, which starts at the beginning of the year to November.

The full-time programme requires the completion of all four modules and the research long essay in one year starting from February to November. 

Curriculum

The Honours can be taken part-time or full-time. Part-time for two years and in the first year you complete 2 courses, one in semester 1 and another in semester 2. The following year the same applies with the additional requirement of completing a research long essay, which starts at the beginning of the year to November.

The full-time programme requires the completion of all four modules and the research long essay in one year starting from February to November. There are two compulsory courses that form part of the four modules and they are Cultural entrepreneurship and Arts Marketing: Context, Strategies And Practices. Additional two modules can be taken from any other discipline including the following departments; History of Arts, Theatre and Performance, Interdisciplinary Arts and Culture Studies and others. Courses for the Honours programme are equivalent to final year/ 4th year electives, and thus we also have students within the different disciplines in the school enrolled. An additional requirement for all course electives is participation in a traineeship, which is a 40hours placement programme at an arts organisation this is part of the experiential learning component of the courses. The Honours Semester 1 & 2 Course Code is WSOA 4122A

The electives at Honours year are:

4th Year electives

Both 4th year electives are open to 4th year students in WSOA who have completed the 3rd Year CPM electives. There are ONLY 20 places available in each course because of the availability of traineeship placements in arts organisations. The following are electives that can be taken at 4th year:

Cultural Entrepreneurship: The course introduces students to cultural entrepreneurship and business planning in the cultural/ creative industries. Students learn to critique and design business models, institutional arrangements, budgets, risk management, monitoring and evaluation. The course explores definitions in cultural entrepreneurship as well as the importance of creativity and innovation, which involves a critical analysis of institutional formations and arrangements that exist in the arts, culture and cultural/ creative industries. It is designed to equip students with critical thinking skills to assess and evaluate institutional needs to work inside and outside differing business frameworks in the arts. The Honours Semester 1 course code for this programme is WSOA 4132A.

Arts Marketing: Context, Strategies And Practices: Effective marketing, income generation and audience development are critical components for success, growth and sustainability of any arts enterprises. They guarantee sustained consumption of cultural and creative goods and services.   Development of effective product and organisational marketing strategies in the cultural and creative industries is dependent on a solid understanding of the value of the arts, the macro and micro contexts and markets. This course focuses on understanding linkages between key principles of marketing that determine the development of effective marketing and audience development strategies and plans - the 7 ‘P’s of Marketing (Product, People, Price, Place, Promotion, Physical Evidence and Process). In exploring the elements which affect marketing and audience development, the course will pay particular attention to the role of rapid technological advancement and new media in Arts Marketing.  The Honours  Semester 2  course code is WSOA 4132A.  

Undergraduate/ Electives

3rd year electives

Cultural Policy and Management offers two elective courses to all 3rd Year students in WSOA. Students can find out about these courses by getting in touch with the course coordinator to secure a place for the following year, since places get filled up very quickly. The following are electives that can be taken at 3rd year:

Introduction to Cultural Policy and Management: This course covers the value of cultural goods and services; the role and status of the artists; copyright; the micro and macro context of the cultural and creative industry; the value chain in cultural and creative industries; entrepreneurship; business development; and marketing of cultural goods and services. The course teaches content that responds to contemporary cultural policy and management challenges faced by cultural institutions in the African context. The course is designed to groom arts professionals, managers, curators, producers, fundraisers and marketers who are capable of innovating, developing and facilitating sustained production, distribution and consumption of cultural and creative goods and services in the African and South African contexts. The 3rd Year Semester 1 Course Code is WSOA 3021A.

Funding Context In Cultural And Creative Industries: This course introduces students who are interested in the cultural and creative industries as well as arts and culture organisational theory to fundraising, sponsorship and financial management concepts. The course explores fundraising, sponsorship and basic financial management skills required for effective and efficient fundraising initiatives that promote sustainability within the arts. The course critically analyses old and new funding paradigms from public and private sources of funding in order to open discussion about the importance of building successful partnerships with different stakeholders and how funding issues are central to the role and success of the arts in society. The 3rd Year Semester 2 Course Code is WSOA 3021A.

Entry Requirements

Basic Enrolment and Registration Requirements

Email the Programme Coordinator for a detailed copy of the Course Outline. There are ONLY 20 places available to each elective and as such priority is given to students who have successfully completed their 3rd  Year CPM electives . Registration forms should be approved and signed off by the responsible CPM Course Coordinator 

For further Information regarding Undergrad for 4th Year, contact Undergrad Admin  Hamisha.Bhana@wits.ac.za

For Postgrad Honours send your queries to pg.wsoa@wits.ac.za

Additional requirements may apply.

University Application Process

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. The University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.