BA in Art Business

This BA (Hons) Art Business (Top-Up) course is essentially about employability, providing you with the knowledge, understanding and experience needed to work effectively in the creative industries. During this (one-year full-time/ two-year part-time) level 6 course, you will be supported to navigate the extensive range of careers in the creative and cultural sectors.

The course will support you to develop the professional skills needed to pursue your ambitions, and the intellectual and critical skills to challenge existing structures, in order to innovate for the future.

The course will offer a nurturing space for you to self-reflect and identify your innate skill set, developing the ability to locate the right employment routes or generate ventures for yourself. The course provides a balance of experiential and academic study, bringing together organisations and individuals from across Birmingham’s creative industries and cultural institutions to enable live experiences and opportunities to network and cultivate relationships.

The philosophy of the course embraces entrepreneurialism, curiosity, innovation and a responsive and flexible approach to current opportunities and challenges in the employment landscape. Fostering inclusive and ethical working practices will be fundamental, considering how ‘good’ creative work can benefit individuals, their communities and the planet. Building confidence and a repertoire of flexible, responsive, adaptable and transferable skills will help to future-proof your career.

What's covered in this course?

The course will examine the exciting relationships and intersections between creativity and management, art and business. The curriculum provides an opportunity to see tensions and emerging opportunities in the broad landscape of contemporary creative enterprise in its various forms, e.g. entrepreneurial activity, collectives, small creative businesses, the not-for-profit sector, within cultural/educational institutions, etc. It will also be fundamental to discuss how societal, political and environmental shifts have important implications for those working in the creative industries, be it marketing, engagement, production or distribution. Our course aims to explore what shapes, systems and structures exist, and how this affects various forms of value, the management and ‘flow’ of creative goods, and the creative process.

Located in the culturally diverse city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, the curriculum design and live experiences will reflect the needs and opportunities of the student body, creating accessible routes to employment. The course will also explore a broader picture of the creative industries, at the national policy level, considering the implications for various stakeholders.

A basic understanding of intellectual property rights, and the current global market for ‘symbolic goods’, will be important to locate art business practices in a broader context. The course responds to the continuing need for industry-ready graduates and will contribute to the growing creative landscape in the locality and beyond.

The course is committed to providing a flexible learning experience to widen participation with blended teaching and learning opportunities. Curriculum and debate will have ethical working practices at the forefront, exploring relevant considerations for the creative industries around inclusivity, diversity and equality, examining precarious labour and exploring ways that various forms of enterprise can support mental health and wellbeing.

Through working on a series of projects and briefs written in consultation with external agencies and institutions, you will build up a portfolio to showcase your individual abilities. You will develop key transferable skills in creative thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, leadership and strategy, project management, budgeting, marketing, communication, presentation, independent research, and critical and analytical thinking skills.

It is anticipated that graduates from the course will go on to work in various contexts, for example in the museum/gallery sector, arts education and socially engaged practice, marketing, exhibitions & events management, front-of-house roles, entrepreneurial activities, arts operation & management, galleries (public and private), auction houses and art journalism.

Why choose us?

1. Birmingham School of Art is celebrating 130 years of art at Margaret Street – its Grade I-listed building, located in the heart of the Colmore Business District, and in close proximity to the city’s cultural institutions and creative hubs, e.g. Ikon Gallery, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Barber Institute and the Jewellery Quarter.
2. You'll instantly become part of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Media’s 6,000-strong student community, and you will be supported by our highly experienced staff, who all have experience in working in various roles across the creative industries, with a vast array of experience in the sector.
3. Opportunities to take part in work placements, network, and respond to live projects set by industry professionals, through our unique collaborations.
4. A broad range of guest talks by inspiring figures from the creative industries, for example; museums and galleries, education, entrepreneurs and business leaders.
5. The opportunity to engage with physical and virtual events and conferences to support and inspire your studies.