Ladder to Arts Leadership

Queen’s University has launched a new ‘laddered’ Graduate Diploma and Master’s program that will provide students interested in pursuing or accelerating their career in the arts with a 360-degree view of the arts and culture industry.

Through the programs, offered by the Dan School of Drama and Music in collaboration with the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, students can earn a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management with the successful completion of the six-week term, or continue with the Master’s in Arts Leadership.

A new laddered Graduate Diploma and Master’s program at ֱ provides students interested in pursuing or accelerating their career in the arts with a full view of the arts and culture industry. (University Communications)

With a focus on experiential learning through live site research assignments and a final term practicum placement in an arts organization, students are exposed to, and taught by, top practitioners in the arts industry. Students in the program will also be provided with assistance in securing their final term practicum by leading North American arts search consultants, Genovese, Vanderhoof and Associates. 

“Queen’s offers its students a perfect balance of engagement with rigorous academic programs and access to first class practitioners and arts facilities,” says Gordon E. Smith, Interim Dean, Faculty of Arts and Science. “Both programs are cross-disciplinary – and will be delivered by instructors from the Dan School of Drama and Music, the Masters of Industrial Relations program, the Smith School of Business, as well as top practitioners in the field. In addition, the campus boasts world-class facilities including a major performing arts centre, art gallery, and library, all with senior staff whose management experience adds to the practical teaching environment.”

The five core courses needed to complete the Graduate Diploma in Arts Management are offered during a single six-week session in May and June beginning in 2017. A student may then continue on to pursue the Master’s in Arts Leadership program through the completion of one additional term of coursework, partly or wholly online, followed by a third capstone term involving a practicum placement.

“This is an ideal and complementary graduate program for those who have received an undergraduate degree in drama, music, fine art, film and related cultural fields,” says Craig Walker, Director of the Dan School of Drama and Music.  “It is designed to help students capitalize on the extensive transferable skills they have gained during their earlier studies.”

“Students will gain a tremendous knowledge in resource development which is required in all arts leadership positions in an industry requiring substantial revenue growth to achieve its artistic and audience goals,” adds Tricia Baldwin, Director, Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts. “The relationship-based and revenue development focus of the program will set graduates up for tremendous success in the field.”

For more information and upcoming events for the Graduate Diploma in Arts Management and the Master’s in Arts Leadership visit the .