Accelerate Your Career in Arts Management and Leadership
Canada’s cultural and creative arts sector plays an important role in strengthening and our cultural fabric and increasing social connections. Arts managers and leaders are vital to this ecosystem as they provide vision and paths to realize these goals in non-profit, commercial or entrepreneurial roles.
Our unique graduate programs are focused exclusively on cultivating and supporting the next generation of arts and cultural professionals. Earn a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management in a 4-month (one term) online program, or complete a Master of Arts Leadership across 12 months (three terms), combining online study with a paid internship or a major research project. We emphasize all aspects of arts management processes and leadership, from human resources and finance to philanthropy and governance. Graduates of our programs have gone on to positions in development, marketing, producing, programming and otherwise providing key artistic or executive leadership in small, medium or large organizations from museums, to symphonies, galleries, theatres, and municipalities.
Program at a Glance
| Graduate Diploma in Arts Management | Master of Arts Leadership |
Credential | Graduate Diploma | Professional Master's Degree |
Length | 4 months / 16 weeks | 12 months / 3 terms |
Format | Online | Online + internship or research project |
Start date | May | May |
Intership | — | Paid internship option |
Who it's for | Emerging/current arts professionals | Emerging/current arts leaders |
Minimum | 4-year Arts/Humanities degree; B+ | 4-year Arts/Humanities degree; B+ |
Application | February 1 | February 1 |
Next intake | May 2027 | May 2027 |
Tuition | Fees available on the Queen's Registrar Office | Fees available on the Queen's Registrar Office |
Interested?
Join us for one of our upcoming Drop-In Sessions:
27 October @ 18:00 EST
05 November @ 12:00 EST
25 November @ 12:00 EST
Can’t make the sessions or want more personalized feedback?
We encourage you to complete our pre-application survey and a representative from our graduate program will contact you.
Jump to How To Apply
Graduate Diploma in Arts Management
Our Graduate Diploma in Arts Management is a one-term (16-week) program that can either be a stand-alone certification or constitutes the first term of the three-term Master of Arts Leadership program. The Graduate Diploma consists of five core courses: Arts Marketing, Arts Philanthropy, Arts Management: Human Resources, Artistic Producing, and Finance & Accounting for HR/LR. Graduates from this program will have a skills toolkit that will set them well on the path to becoming the arts managers and leaders of tomorrow.
The entire Diploma is completed online, combining synchronous and asynchronous virtual learning to balance flexibility in learning while also creating online community.
Master of Arts Leadership
The Master of Arts Leadership is a 12-month (3-term) Professional Master's program. As a student in this program, you will attend courses online for the first two terms. In the third term, choose to either participate in a placement at a host organization and complete a capstone report on a topic related to that organization, or design and execute a major research report independently under faculty supervision. Regardless of which pathway you choose, this term focuses on research in action - you will leverage the knowledge gained through your coursework with a direct application to the field. Graduates of this program have gone on to establish rewarding careers in many of Canada's premier arts organizations.
Delivery:
- May-December - Classes are online.
- January-April - Depending on the pathway you choose you will either: complete a paid internship at an arts organization, tailored to your artistic background and geographical location, to the extent possible (We place you!) OR work closely with a faculty member to complete a major research project on a topic of your choosing
Our Instructors: Our teachers are industry leaders who can share best practices and trends in the field. Many of our instructors have advanced graduate degrees, combining research practices to help you leverage your skills and abilities.
Check out the semester schedule or get more information on courses on the Arts and Science Academic Course Calendar.
If you have questions about this program or application process please contact graduate.danschool@queensu.ca
Gain Professional Experience Through a Paid Arts Internship
Our Master of Art’s Leadership offers an optional paid internship. Our placement coordinator works with you to find a placement suited to your professional interests, artistic background, and geographic location. Past placements include: The National Arts Centre, McMichael Canadian Art Collection, The National Ballet of Canada, the Stratford Festival, the Imperial Theatre, the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Arts Commons, Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, the Shaw Festival, the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Daphne (Indigenous Art Centre) and more! You will engage in meaningful work within the organization, in areas such as marketing, development, philanthropy, and general arts administration.
The knowledge we gather through the Arts Leadership program is a privilege. The professors are exemplary and through the program they teach us the best practices for cultural institutions. But how can we use that knowledge without an opportunity to apply it in the field? Like many of my classmates, my internship was absolutely needed as a steppingstone into the industry. I started as an intern, but quickly proved my leadership skills. I am now the acting Manager of Database & Membership at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, working with a team who admires my education and is happy to have me on board.
Daniela Casas, Master of Arts Leadership, ‘22
Manager of Database & Membership at the McMichael Canadian Art Collection
Are These programs Right for Me?
The Graduate Diploma in Arts Management or Master of Art’s Leadership may be a good fit if you:
- want to build a career managing or leading arts and cultural organizations;
- have an undergraduate background in arts or humanities;
- are an artist interested in moving into management or leadership;
- currently work in the cultural sector and want more advanced management training;
- are interested in marketing, fundraising, producing, programming or organizational leadership;
- want graduate study that can largely be completed online
Post-Graduate Pathways
Our graduates have been very successful in finding employment upon completion of the program including:
Arts Administrator • Executive Director • Artistic Producer • Development Officer • Fundraising Manager • Marketing Manager • Programming Manager • Gallery Administrator • Museum Administrator • Orchestra Administrator • Theatre Administrator • Cultural Policy Professional • Arts Entrepreneur
How to Apply
Graduate students apply through the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs.
Application requirements and supporting materials for both the Graduate Diploma and Degree programs include:
Completed a 4-year undergraduate degree in the Arts or Humanities (eg: BA, BMus, BFA)
Achieved a minimum cumulative B+ GPA
Two Letters of Reference and the contact information of the referees
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutes attended, sent by each institution directly to Queen's School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
A non-refundable application fee. How to Apply | School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs
Start your application by logging into the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs portal.
- Click "Create an Account" if you are a new applicant to a graduate program at Queen's
- Once your account is created, you will be asked to select your program
- Select the "Diploma in Arts Management" if you wish to be considered for the 4-month program
- Select "Master's in Arts Leadership" if you wish to be considered for the 12-month program
- You will also be asked to select your “Start Term” (May or September)
- Students seeking entry into the Diploma in Arts Management must choose "May"
- Students seeking direct entry into the Master's of Arts program must choose "May"
- Students who have already completed a Graduate Diploma in Arts Management and are now seeking entrance to the Master's in Arts Leadership will choose "September". The September start date is reserved for applicants who have already completed the Queen's Graduate Diploma in Arts Management, and wish to continue on in the Master's program.
Your application is considered complete after the following occurs:
Completed application form
Receipt of both Letters of Reference
Receipt of transcripts directly from each academic institution attended
Receipt of application fee payment
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Application deadline is February 1.
- Notification of acceptance will be posted in the School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs portal.
- Questions about the application process? Contact us at graduate.danschool@queensu.ca
FAQs
1. How do I submit my transcripts?
Transcripts should be sent by each institution directly to Queen's School of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs. Students can upload official transcripts to their application for review purposes only. Any offer of admission is conditional on receipt of official transcripts.
2. What are the tuition fees?
Tuition fees for domestic and international students are detailed through the Queen's Registrar Office. Scroll down and click on ‘Arts and Science’ to see current fees.