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Regular version of the site
Master 2020/2021

Business Management in the Art World

Area of studies: History of Arts
Delivered by: School of History
When: 1 year, 3 module
Mode of studies: offline
Instructors: Olga Nefedova
Master’s programme: History of Artistic Culture and the Art Market
Language: English
ECTS credits: 4
Contact hours: 46

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course “Business Management in the Art World” introduces the principles and practices of business management in art and cultural institutions. During the course key areas of art business management are taught, such as collections management, museum, gallery and site management, education and emerging digital technologies, including education in museums, and digital heritage. The course provides training in a range of practical skills as well as encouraging critical thinking in relationship to heritage practices. The course offers a set of lectures and seminars that allow students to develop basic practical and theoretical understanding of current museological practice. The aim of this course is to provide students a broad and challenging introduction to the practical and theoretical issues of contemporary museum and gallery practice in an international context; to encourage students to develop critical awareness in relation to museums, heritage and professional practice; to introduce students to the key areas of cultural heritage including theoretical principles, collections management, museum, gallery and site management, education and emerging digital technologies. At the completion of the course students will develop a critical awareness of relevant heritage issues in museum and gallery practice at local, regional, national and international levels, have basic knowledge of collections management, preventive conservation, object and collections-based research, have a good understanding of the principles and ethical considerations which govern the museum and gallery profession, as well as relevant national and international legislation and key advisory bodies, have a good knowledge of relevant museological literature and additional relevant art and heritage-related resources.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Developing students’ writing and analytical competencies through assignments designed around specific writing and speaking activities that gradually lead students to the final production of the analysis.
  • Developing students’ oral and communication skills.
  • Develop students’ critical thinking related to museum management practices.
  • Developing ability to apply fundamental museum management terminology.
  • Developing an appreciation for the process of museums’ foundation.
  • Developing an understanding of purpose and function of museum, the ability to analyze its functions, programs, achievements.
  • Developing students’ research and methodology skills through portfolio assignments.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • To develop students’ writing and analytical competencies through assignments designed around specific writing and speaking activities that gradually lead students to the final production of the analysis. To develop students’ oral and communication skills.
  • To develop students’ critical thinking related to museum management practices. To develop ability to apply fundamental museum management terminology.
  • To develop an appreciation for the process of museums’ foundation. To develop an understanding of purpose and function of museum, the ability to analyze its functions, programs, achievements.
  • To developstudents’ research and methodology skills through portfolio assignments.
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • Introduction. Principles of museum and gallery practice.
    History and theory of museum and gallery development and the formation of their collections. The changing role, function and organization of art and heritage organizations in society. Case studies from museums and galleries in Europe, America and the Middle East.
  • Practicalities of documentation within a museum environment. Popular computer‐based Collections Management Systems. The issues around object handling, movement, packing and risk assessment.
    Main environmental factors affecting collections - light, relative humidity, pollutants, pests, temperature, and security. Security and emergency planning. Innovative display and outreach techniques. Best practice in the area of collections management and care. The methods developed by museums, collections and archives for safe interaction with objects.
  • General introduction to collections care and management. The management of information about collections.
    Managing museums and gallery collections: documentation, collections management systems, preventive conservation, environmental monitoring, risk management, security issues, storage and loans management. Different types of documentation: object catalogues, accession registers, and procedural documentation (such as loan forms).
  • Managing museums and cultural heritage. International, national and local role of heritage sites, museums and galleries. Digital heritage. Critical and theoretical study of the role of digital media in museums and galleries.
    Large scale project management principles and practice. Heritage interpretation. Museum methods of communication and interpretation. Information and communication technologies from a museological point of view. Digital heritage policies and strategies in the context of the information society; the online version of the museum; the role of interactives and interactivity in exhibition spaces; the use of mobile media and social software.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking In-class participation
  • non-blocking Presentation
  • non-blocking In-class test
  • non-blocking Final exam
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (3 module)
    0.4 * Final exam + 0.24 * In-class participation + 0.24 * In-class test + 0.12 * Presentation
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • Ambrose, T., & Paine, C. (2012). Museum Basics (Vol. 3rd ed). Abingdon, Oxon: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=463323
  • Tzortzi, K. (2015). Museum Space : Where Architecture Meets Museology. Farnham, Surrey, England: Routledge. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=997155

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Genoways, H. H., Ireland, L. M., & Catlin-Legutko, C. (2016). Museum Administration 2.0. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=1288465
  • Piacente, M., & Lord, B. (2014). Manual of Museum Exhibitions (Vol. Second edition). Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=nlebk&AN=759389