• Offered for Year: 2025/26

• Module Leader(s): Dr Emma Coffield

• Owning School: Arts & Cultures
• Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus

Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Aims

The aims of the module are to provide students with:
An introduction to key management practices and challenges in the museum/gallery/heritage sector;
An introduction to, and framework for, key analysis tools used before, during and after projects;
A critical introduction to key legislation and working practices common to museum/gallery/heritage organisations, and;
A critical introduction to key legislation and working practices common to freelance or self-employed professionals in the museum/gallery/heritage sector.

Outline Of Syllabus

This module provides an introduction to key management practices in the museum/gallery/heritage (MGH) sector. It aims to provide a critical and ethical understanding of how MGH sites function, and the core methods, techniques and skills that are needed to work collaboratively. It is split into three sections. The first sets out the core skills and knowledges implicated in MGH management and leadership, introducing key terminology and techniques. The second critically explores resulting relationships, looking closely at key groups, ideas, challenges and working practice 'on the ground'. The third provides space for critical reflection in relation to a number of 'real-life' challenges. As such, the module examines broader issues in the sector, while relating them to specific examples, enabling students to expland their knowledge of the running of MGH venues, as well as enhancing their management and ledership skills.

Indicative issues to be covered in the module include: strategic planning; project management; budgets; the management of teams and/or volunteers; generating projects; tenders, bids and commissions; site and event management; complaint and conflict, and; leadership.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities

Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Module talk: This teaching method will be used to introduce the module and brief students about assessment.

Lecture: This is the core teaching method used to achieve all of the knowledge learning outcomes.

Small-group teaching: This teaching method is intended to allow students to consolidate knowledge learning outcomes and to meet the skills outcomes through critically applying their new knowledge. It also allows students to practice all of the skill sets within the Graduate Skills Framework.

Fieldwork: on-site activity to engage with a case study site that complements and relates to other teaching methods and helps students to achieve knowledge learning outcomes.

Independent study: This teaching method enables students to independently deepen knowledge outcomes and to practise all skills outcomes, as well as applying cognitive/intellectual, self-management and interaction skills in particular.

Drop in/surgery: This allows students to raise questions about/discuss the assessment.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment

Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The module is designed to introduce students to effective management practices in the museum/gallery/heritage sector, and to provide them with a variety of tools and techniques to use in ‘real-life’ situations. The assignment, written in the form of a report, will test the knowledge and skills gained by setting a number of scenarios common to the sector. The report will also allow students to build up specialist knowledge relevant to their chosen MA programme and to explore a specific set of issues in greater depth and in relation to the relevant literature.

Reading Lists

• MCH8502's Reading List

Timetable

• Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
• MCH8502's Timetable