Master of Arts Management

The Master of Arts Management at The Australian Institute of Music is a one-year postgraduate degree for people who want to run arts organisations, not just perform in them. You'll study how arts and music businesses actually work: planning seasons and tours, budgeting and financial reporting, marketing and audience development, fundraising and sponsorship, contracts and copyright, and the industrial relations that govern performers and arts workers. Because it sits inside a music institute, the teaching leans on real arts practice rather than generic business case studies.

How the degree is structured

As an Australian master's degree, this course sits at AQF Level 9. It is normally delivered over one year of full-time study, split into trimesters or semesters depending on the intake. You accumulate credit points by passing units of study, and you need to complete the required number of credit points to graduate. Expect core management units plus electives, and often a capstone unit, a major project, industry consultancy, or research-based thesis, where you pull everything together. Some students take it part-time over two years while working in the industry.

Skills you gain

You'll learn to write a business plan for an arts organisation, read a profit-and-loss statement, pitch to a funding body, negotiate a contract, and manage a production budget without losing the artistic point of it. You'll also build the softer skills that arts management lives on: leading small teams, dealing with boards and sponsors, and communicating with artists, agents and venues. Assessment is usually a mix of reports, presentations, projects and the final capstone.

Who it suits

This degree suits musicians, performers, arts administrators and event producers who want to move into management, as well as business graduates who want to specialise in the arts. It also works for people already running a small company or venue who need formal grounding in finance, law and strategy. Work-integrated learning and industry placements are common in this field, so you may spend part of the course inside a festival, venue, record label or arts agency. If you are an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while your course is in session, and you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream after you finish. Entry normally requires a bachelor's degree or equivalent, and international applicants need to meet the English requirement published by the institute. Check the official CRICOS entry and the institute's page for current fees, intake dates and unit details.

• Arts administrator or general manager in a theatre, concert hall, festival or arts centre
• Artist manager or booking agent representing musicians and performers
• Producer or production manager for live events, tours and festivals
• Marketing and audience development manager for arts organisations
• Fundraising, sponsorship or development officer for arts charities and cultural institutions
• Record label or music publishing administrator
• Cultural policy or program officer in government arts agencies
• Event and venue manager in hospitality, entertainment and creative precincts

Australia's arts and cultural sector spans live music, festivals, theatre, museums, galleries, screen and digital content. Employers include major performing arts companies, state and local government cultural programs, independent producers, music labels, and the growing network of arts venues and festivals across the country.