Strategy and Sustainability within Cultural Organisations is a popular course from Queen Margaret University’s flagship Arts, Festival and Cultural Management programme and has been approved as a micro-credential short course.
In 2025/6, you can undertake this course with or without academic credits. Fees apply to both.
This course explores sustainability issues within the arts and cultural sector in the face of global environmental, economic, and social change. You will expand your strategic knowledge, thinking and practices about sustainability issues and will be studying these topics alongside postgraduate students.
Starting in mid-September 2025, the course runs for 12 weeks in four teaching blocks with four full learning days on QMU’s campus in Musselburgh, previously Fridays (TBC). Students are encouraged to undertake, on average, 10-15 hours of individual study per week also.
Who is this course for?
This course is for those working, or who wish to build a career, in the arts and cultural sector.
Who will be teaching you?
The course is led by Alice McGrath, lecturer in Arts Management and Cultural Policy and an experienced arts manager and consultant. Alice is supported by colleagues in QMU’s Arts, Festivals and Cultural Management team as well as visiting practitioners in the cultural sector.
How will I be assessed?
For the 20-credit assessment, there are two written assessments: 1000 word reflection (20%) and 3000 word analysis or proposal (80%) where students can choose to analyse a real-time cultural strategic or sustainability plan OR create a proposal for conducting a sustainability impact assessment for a cultural organisation.
For more information, see course webpage or contact ILO@qmu.ac.uk. NB This course will run depending on numbers registered. Confirmation of commencement will be four weeks in advance of the start date.
For further information, please contact ILO@qmu.ac.uk (Nicky Orr) or visit https://www.qmu.ac.uk/study-here/short-courses/short-courses/strategy-and-sustainability-within-cultural-organisations.
