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Consultancy | The consultancy pathway offers a unique opportunity to develop research and consultancy skills within the cultural and creative industries. It is designed to prepare graduates to tackle practical real world problems faced by organisations and enable them to develop their career options.
Practice | The practice pathway explores the creative synergies between artistic practice and arts management. It is highly distinctive in preparing thinking practitioners for portfolio careers in which they are not only artists, but also curators, fundraisers, administrators and marketing managers.
MA Contemporary Arts has two pathways; Consultancy and Practice.
The consultancy project is a central element of the course and we understand that students need time to develop their research and consultancy knowledge and skills before they can successfully apply these. Normally students will spend the first term developing their understanding of the project requirements and developing a research project plan. They will be allocated a supervisor at the start of the year who will support and advise them during this process. Normally the majority of the applied research is completed during the second term and the findings, conclusions and recommendations from this are delivered through a consultancy report to the client in the summer term. This course is designed to prepare you to tackle practical problems faced by organisations and, with advice and support from academic staff, to take responsibility for a consultancy based project to help resolve practical issues and problems faced by a client organisation.
Staff who contribute to the course have consultancy experience and external speakers are used to provide input in areas such as public relations and dealing with the media. Our client organisations predominantly come from the creative industries and the cultural and heritage sectors. Previous clients include: BBC radio, Grundy Art Gallery, Horse and Bamboo Theatre, Dukes Theatre, National Trust, Wordsworth Trust, Lancaster Litfest, The Great British Rhythm and Blues Festival, and The National Football Museum.
The course provides the professional skills for developing a considered art practice and the real-world competencies required to support and promote that work. Key to the rationale is developing better-organised making processes and more creative approaches to management, and an exploration of the ways in which these inform each other. Central to course delivery is input from visiting professionals, companies and directors, and a range of links and partnerships with arts organisations. This is reflected in the range of placement opportunities available (including the likes of FutureEverything, Forced Entertainment, Storey Creative Industries Centre, ArtGene, Scape New Zealand). Students also benefit from opportunities for mentoring from visiting artists, and the research and practice specialisms of the staff within LICA.
The course includes a high-profile showcase opportunity in a final interdisciplinary festival, through which students launch their professional practice and develop a range of skills. Students create a business plan, budget, fundraising strategy and marketing plan for the event, and fulfil roles in curating, producing, marketing, project management and design.
LICA hosts three important professional public arts venues in the form of the Nuffield Theatre, Lancaster International Concert Series and Peter Scott Gallery. Their public programmes feed directly into the course, and also host the final festival. In addition to this, resources include well-equipped recording studios, video editing facilities, rehearsal rooms and performance studios.
A first or upper second class degree (or equivalent) is normally expected, although other qualifications and relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration.
Please note that if English is not your first language you are required to obtain an English language qualification that demonstrates ability to communicate in English across all four language skills – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Details of the English Language requirements can be found on our How to Apply page.
Consultancy pathway | The course appeals to graduates with an interest in working and consulting in the cultural and creative industries. We are looking for students who have a real desire to work with a client to address their needs within real work constraints of time and resources. Students who do not meet the normal entry requirements (at least a UK second class honours degree or equivalent) but do have a degree (or equivalent) can register initially for a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Arts Consultancy and transfer to the MA after successful completion of the taught modules.
Practice Pathway | Applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment to, and level of attainment within, their chosen artform pathway, as well as a willingness to work alongside and collaborate with those from other artistic fields and backgrounds. Applicants will have either a degree-level qualification in their chosen artform, or a demonstrable track-record of professional practice (which might include publicly-funded projects, exhibitions, national touring or recording). Interviews are required, as is documentation of previous artworks. Overall we are looking for the self-motivation and entrepreneurial spirit to develop ones own art practice into a viable and sustainable way of life.
MA Applied Research & Consultancy, 2008
"The course has a good balance between practical and theoretical work while developing knowledge and skills in a business environment."
"As a campus university, there is a strong sense of community at Lancaster with several places in which to socialise and meet fellow students."
"The university is highly accessible for students, with all the facilities within walking distance of each other, which fosters a strong academic spirit."
MA Applied Research & Consultancy, 2008
"One core aspect of the course is the consultancy project which is undertaken over a period of 6 months or so which is based within the creative sector."
"I enjoy the community that Lancaster provides, the campus setting supports a strong sense of being involved in an academic environment."
"Lancaster socially is different from other universities as it provides a social setting that is ‘local’ so you’re not just a face in the crowd."
MA Applied Research & Consultancy, 2008
"The course is so exciting, which provide students with opportunity of working for a real company as a consultant."
"Lancaster has a strong reputation for its teaching quality and international environment so there are students from all over the world. The college system provides a chance to meet and make new friends."
MA Professional Contemporary Arts Practice, 2008
"The opportunity through LICA to achieve collaboration with fine art, theatre, music, creative and cultural industries, and so on is a real reward."
"ProCAP is an academic frame in which visual artists, theatre practitioners and creative producers learn and practice the ethics of cultural entrepreneurship, policy and practice."
"Upon graduation I intend to initiate and interdisciplinary artist network and development agency as I feel there is a vibrant cohort of artists, organisations and venues which can be connected in an appropriate and innovative formats."
MA Creative Arts Consultancy, 2011
"This course introduced me to the challenges that creative industries face in a very practical way. Throughout the year of study I learned not only how to tackle problems within the organization, but also, and most importantly, how to apply appropriate skills and knowledge in a way that benefited me, and the client."
"I was challenged with the personal development plan to implement my own work preferences, and critically analyse my role within the organization. I learned that in order to help the client develop through the consultancy you have to constantly seek development for yourself."
MA Creative Arts Consultancy, 2011
"I enjoyed my MA course at Lancaster University. Ongoing projects and countless opportunities made this year unforgettable and the whole experience worthwhile."
