Arts Management

Increasing professionalization in the cultural sector is an expression of a shifting understanding of culture. It reflects the growing demands on cultural organizations, public administrations, funding bodies, and cultural projects.

Cultural managers design, organize, manage, and communicate culture. They develop projects, promote cooperation, reflect on cultural processes, and successfully market cultural programs and events. Positioned at the intersection of art, politics, business, and society, they help shape the cultural sector in a sustainable way.

Their diverse tasks require sound technical, methodical, and strategic competence. For this reason, the ZHAW Center for Arts Management offers a Master of Advanced Studies (MAS), various one-semester Certificates of Advanced Studies (CAS), and several continuing education courses (WBK). Several times a year, we host information events, alternating between online and on-site sessions in Winterthur, about our range of continuing education programs. Personal and non-binding consultations with the program heads are possible at any time by telephone or online via Zoom/MS Teams.

MAS in Arts Management

The MAS in Arts Management enables graduates to take on strategic and operational tasks in management and administration, as well as the management of cultural enterprises and projects, or to pursue a career as self-employed professionals.

The program consists of four CAS courses followed by a Master's thesis. Three compulsory CAS courses and one elective CAS give students the opportunity for individual in-depth study and specialization. The course features a modular structure and offers flexible start times in the spring or fall. The order in which the four CAS courses are completed can be determined individually. The MAS in Arts Management offers experienced cultural professionals, as well as career changers with expertise in related fields, a well-founded, practical, and flexible continuing education program tailored to personal interests and professional goals.

CAS Programs Arts Management

CAS Kulturpolitik und Kulturförderung

After completing the CAS Kulturpolitik und Kulturförderung, you will be able to take on tasks in cultural policy planning and the promotion of cultural institutions competently, independently, and responsibly. The CAS also enables you to act professionally in the political and social environment of cultural promotion. It can be booked individually or as part of the MAS in Arts Management program.

CAS Kulturbetriebsführung

The CAS Kulturbetriebsführung will enable you to run cultural organizations and projects. Using the latest management knowledge, graduates can master the challenges of arts and cultural organizations. The program can be booked individually or as part of the MAS in Arts Management program.

CAS Cultural Entrepreneurship

The CAS in Cultural Entrepreneurship will prepare you for setting up and developing cultural ventures and projects while also teaching entrepreneurial thinking and action in the context of existing cultural organizations. It can be booked individually or as part of the MAS in Arts Management program.

CAS Kulturmarketing und Kulturvermittlung

Graduates of the CAS Kulturmarketing und Kulturvermittlung program are competent and up-to-date in all areas of arts marketing. They develop fundraising and sponsorship concepts for cultural institutions and cultural projects and implement them successfully. The program can be booked individually or as part of the MAS in Arts Management program.

Arts Management Continuing Education Courses (WBK)

WBK Future-Proof Cultural Organizations (new!)

In the two-day continuing education course, participants will gain familiarity with the key fundamentals of organizational development for cultural actors and acquire the necessary tools to develop and implement their own organizational design approaches.

WBK Sustainability in the Arts

In the two-day continuing education course, you will learn the most important basics of sustainability and acquire the necessary tools to anchor sustainability in your cultural enterprise or project in a future-oriented way.

WBK Fundraising in the Arts

In this three-day continuing education course, participants receive basic knowledge about the most important fundraising instruments and their practical implementation in the cultural sector.

WBK Arts History: From Antiquity to Post-Modern Era

In this continuing education course, participants explore questions of arts history, aesthetics, and cultural philosophy in order to historically contextualize today's cultural industry and better understand current debates.

Arts Management (MAS/CAS) Information Events

All Arts Management executive education programs/continuing education courses are presented at regular intervals in the Arts Management (MAS/CAS) information events. Why not register for an information event and learn more about how our programs can benefit you?