NUI Galway and Galway International Arts Festival (GIAF) have announced the establishment of a new course aimed at providing skills and opportunities within the arts. The Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Arts Management is being offered to students through the Springboard+ initiative – a state programme which offers free and subsidised courses.

Delivered in collaboration with GIAF, Druid Theatre and other arts organisations, the course will provide students with skills in design thinking, production, curation, business management, fundraising and development, as well as a work placement with a business in the creative arts. Classes across three modules will be taught on campus with blended learning options for students based outside of Galway. Taking place over nine months, the course will launch with the first intake of students this September. 

Commenting on the announcement, Professor Patrick Lonergan, Vice-Dean for Engagement in the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Celtic Studies at NUI Galway, said: 

The new Springboard+ Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Arts Management will give participants the skills needed to play a leading role in the development of the creative industries. 

With the support and advice of our partners in Galway International Arts Festival, we’ll provide exciting modules that cover creativity, design thinking, producing and curation, and other essential skills.   

John Crumlish, Chief Executive of GIAF, added:

This is a very exciting development, as it opens up a new avenue for people who wish to develop a career in the creative industries while also adding significantly to the existing human capital in this area.

Springboard+ offers courses at certificate, degree, and masters level with the aim of enabling students to become qualified in areas with employment opportunities. The initiative is now in its twelfth year and over 90,000 people have completed courses through the programme. 

For further information on the Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Arts Management, visit: www.nuigalway.ie/courses/taught-postgraduate-courses/creative-arts-management-pgcert.html