_{Image courtesy of the Landfill Orchestra, Paraguay}

The Centre for Cultural Policy Studies is pleased to announce the launch of the new MA in Arts, Enterprise and Development. The course is the first in the UK to examine the role of culture and the creative industries in International Development. It is also the first course to address the practical and strategic ways in which cultural enterprises and social entrepreneurs can use arts and media for social change, both locally and globally – through community building, economic and social regeneration, sustainable development, cultural tourism, and protecting indigenous cultures and heritage. The course is designed for students seeking careers in arts, media, International Development and social enterprise, and wishing to develop arts and media practices and strategies which address social problems including poverty, waste and inequality.

The MA in Arts, Enterprise and Development has been designed by Dr Jonathan Vickery, who previously set up the Centre’s successful MA in Global Media and Communication. Core modules will be taught by Dr Vickery and Professor Jeremy Ahearne, who will be joining the Centre from the French department full-time in 2014.

The programme is being launched at a time when international organisations including UNESCO, OECD and the EU, alongside numerous smaller NGOs, religious and community-based organisations, are promoting arts and culture for social and economic development. The UN is about to release its new Creative Economy Report 2013: Widening Local Development Pathways, where new evidence demonstrates how culture, communications and arts-based ventures are becoming more central to both national prosperity as well as local wellbeing, social rights and sustainable living.

The arts, cultural and creative industries do more than increase social and economic resources or generate income. They allow individuals to challenge the political or legal limitations and lack of opportunity in their local communities, to address social or educational deficits or gender inequalities, or to increase confidence by re-constructing public space, heritage and local identities.

Students on the course will discover the many examples around the world of individual cultural leadership and entrepreneurship making a difference. They will examine how community and social mobilisation drives social change – increasing participation through setting up new arts organisations, centres or museums, festivals and music events, using new architecture and urban design, or mobile and digital media. Can the arts and culture address the chronic problems of poverty, inequality, waste and powerlessness where current strategies fail?

A number of scholarships are available for this programme – for full details of applications and funding options, please go to the applications page on the website:

For 2014, there is also a dedicated Centre PhD scholarship for candidates wishing to pursue research interests in this field.

For admissions and course related queries, please email Course Director, Dr Jonathan Vickery J.P.Vickery@warwick.ac.uk