Master of Arts (Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship)

Convener's Message

Welcome to our M.A. in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship programme. Our programme offers a solid foundation in the administration, management, and leadership of arts and culture. It will prepare you as future leaders of creative cultural industry. An advanced training in the business of arts, culture and creativity is key to success in the fast-changing creative cultural industry sector.

Overview of the Programme

This programme is designed to cater to the needs of creative professionals and meet the strong demands of Singapore’s and Asia’s ever changing cultural creative industry sector. This is an ideal Master's if you wish to examine the uses of creativity as a progressive force for culture, economy and society.  You will learn from industry practitioners and professional educators about entrepreneurial creativity and how it shapes new enterprises and leads entrepreneurial growth. You will also learn the core strategic skills in the administration, management and leadership of arts and cultural organisations, resources and infrastructures, from managing festivals, events and museums, to working in community development, heritage tourism, education and government. The course enables you to acquire the professional skills and knowledge to succeed in the arts, cultural and creative sectors, and become ethical and reflective practitioners committed to making meaningful contributions.

What is arts and cultural entrepreneurship?

Arts and cultural entrepreneurship involves using innovative and strategic approaches to create, develop, and sustain cultural and artistic projects, products, and organisations.

Entrepreneurial activities in the arts and culture sector can range from launching a new artistic venture, developing a creative project, building a cultural institution, or promoting cultural events and programmes. These activities require a combination of business acumen, creativity, and cultural understanding.

Arts and cultural entrepreneurs work with creatives, cultural institutions, and other stakeholders to create cultural, social and economic value. They leverage funding, marketing, and networking opportunities to grow new initiatives.

Arts and cultural entrepreneurship is a key component of the cultural economy and plays a vital role in promoting and sustaining cultural diversity and creativity.

Career Pathways

The ACE programme equips students with the skills, knowledge and expertise to become creative professionals and arts leaders. Students completing the programme will work in fields ranging from visual and performing arts, cultural policy, art, media and design, galleries, museums, heritage, advertising, fashion, and education.

Key Features

• Creative entrepreneurship;
• Cultural policy design and implementation;
• Cultural evaluation of arts and culture programmes;
• Ecologies in creative economies, cultural industries and art institutions;
• Arts and cultural resource management;
• Cultural heritage applications regionally and internationally;
• Cultural diplomacy and soft power;
• Cultural complexity and intelligence;
• Digital marketing of arts and culture;
• Data analytics of arts and culture;
• Arts law and governance;
• Economics and business of the arts;
• Curatorial practices of arts and culture;
• Events management of arts and culture.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Attain proficiency in cultural theory and understanding of arts and creative industry trends
  2. Acquire skills in management and marketing of the arts and creative industries
  3. Formulate business ideas in the arts and creative industries
  4. Apply entrepreneurial principles to develop sustainable business opportunities in the arts and creative industries
  5. Gain industry knowledge that will create cultural, economic and social impact in the arts and creative industries
  6. Become leaders in the arts and creative industries

Programme structure

The NUS Master of Arts in Arts and Cultural Entrepreneurship is a 40-Unit course-work-based Master’s Degree programme.

Note: For more information about the courses listed above (as well as other courses offered in the current academic year), please visit the Programme Course Information Page or NUSMODS.

Programme Highlights

  1. Teaching and Learning in our campus’ various flagship cultural precincts and facilities
    These include the NUS Museum, the NUS Baba House, and the University Cultural Centre. You will engage in experiential learning and gain practical industry immersion in these cultural spaces, through curatorial collections and via events management.
  2. Opportunities learn through engagements with Singapore’s National Heritage Board (NHB)
    The NHB oversees numerous museums, interpretative centres, institutions, and sites, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The NHB is also the place manager for the BrasBasah.Bugis precinct, Singapore’s arts and cultural belt.
  3. Flexible Study Options that fit your busy schedule
    The stackable programme gives you the flexibility to study when and how you want, so that you can fit your studies into your busy life. You can take the required modular courses that make up the graduate certificate, diploma or master’s to meet your needs.
  4. Internship programme
    The optional internship is a key experiential learning platform where you will be equipped with skills through application-led theory and practice for career progression.
  5. Multidisciplinary Advantage
    You will learn from world experts in various arts and social sciences departments including cultural studies, communications and new media, theatre studies and heritage studies. You will also have the opportunity to take courses on entrepreneurship at the NUS School of Business.

Admissions and application information

Application for our January 2025 intake is ongoing, and will close on 31 May 2024. Interested applicants may refer to information here for the application procedure and requirements.

If you have any specific query regarding our graduate programmes, please write to cnm.graduate@nus.edu.sg, or call +65 6516 4671.

Click above to view some of our ACE students' creative works.