Fa 25 anys, quan la gestió cultural encara no ocupava un espai consolidat dins de la formació universitària, UIC Barcelona va apostar per crear un programa pioner que respongués a una necessitat creixent del sector cultural. Un quart de segle després, el Twenty-five years ago, when cultural management had yet to consolidate itself within university education, UIC Barcelona launched a pioneering programme designed to respond to the growing needs of the cultural sector. A quarter of a century later, the University Master’s Degree in Arts and Cultural Management has established itself as one of the leading programmes in Spain and the country’s most international master’s degree in its field.

Since its creation ahead of the 2001-2002 academic year, the programme has trained more than 1,000 professionals from 80 nationalities and has contributed to the professionalisation of a sector that is increasingly strategic for social, economic and cultural development. It currently has 64 students from 30 nationalities and provides an international academic experience that is an integral part of UIC Barcelona’s identity.

During the 25th anniversary celebration, the rector of UIC Barcelona, Alfonso Méndiz, reminded attendees that the University began this programme when cultural management had yet to attain its current level of academic recognition. A wager he described as “bold and visionary” and which, over time, has proven to be “highly innovative and successful”.

International education

Internationalisation is one of the master’s programme’s distinctive features. Yet it is not simply an international programme but a global academic community in which students, teaching staff and professionals from diverse cultural backgrounds coexist. This international dimension is reflected both in the composition of its student body and in the fact that English is the primary language of instruction, as well as in the partnerships formed with international universities, networks and cultural organisations.
 

This academic year has brought together students from Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa, creating a multicultural environment that enriches learning and fosters the development of international professional networks.

To Miquel Bastons, the programme’s academic director between 2001 and 2004, one of the most inspiring aspects of the programme is precisely the profile of its students: “I’ve always admired people who came from other countries and make a personal and financial sacrifice to pursue their education. Our students are individuals with curiosity and a strong desire to achieve great things.”

Humanistic education

From the onset, the master’s programme has maintained a characteristic that continues to define its academic approach: a balance between humanistic education and professional training.

“That balance between academia and the professional world is one of the defining elements in the history of this master’s programme,” explains Marta Crispí, academic director during the periods 2004-2007 and 2012-2021.

The programme’s structure integrates knowledge from the humanities, cultural policy, heritage, organisational management, marketing, innovation and digital transformation. It also offers two specialisation tracks: Visual Arts and Heritage and Cultural and Creative Industries.

According to Jordi Bermejo, vice-dean of the Faculty of Humanities, this perspective is grounded in a broad conception of the role of culture in society: “Cultural management is, first and foremost, a humanistic endeavour. It is not merely about programming activities or managing resources, but about bringing art, memory and thought to society.”

Over 500 agreements

Another of the elements that set this programme apart is its strong ties to the cultural ecosystem. The master’s programme currently has 528 active agreements with cultural institutions, companies and organisations, enabling students to undertake professional placements in real-world settings and establish direct contacts within the sector.

Its partners include some of Barcelona’s leading cultural institutions, such as MACBA, CCCB, the Joan Miró Foundation, the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Teatre Lliure and Casa Batlló, as well as flagship festivals and platforms such as Sónar and the Cruïlla Festival. Internationally, it holds partnership agreements with organisations such as ENCATC, Creative Europe, Boston University and The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

This connection to the world of work also yields tangible results. The programme boasts an employment rate of 74.1%, a figure well above the average for the Catalan university system.

Jesús Jiménez, a programme alum and currently part of the team at Casa Batlló, emphasises the pivotal role that work placements played in shaping his career path: “Thanks to the work placement I did at Casa Batlló, I had the opportunity to join their team. The master’s programme was a gateway to the job market and an opportunity for professional growth.”