Course Objectives

Students will gain insight into the field of cultural policy and the growth of modern cultural policies. They will also acquire an overview of the leading international players in the field. Students will acquire the ability to reflect and analyse how government policies influence the distribution of resources in the cultural field.

Course Description

The course will provide students with an overview of the cultural policy field, with an emphasis on current cultural policy. Through a wide-ranging presentation of the arts, voluntary organisations and the cultural industry, students will discuss current cultural policy issues, views, and the ideologies behind them.

The central themes of the course are:

- The definition of culture, cultural policy ideologies and goals

- The growth of public cultural policy

- Leisure, cultural consumption, subcultures

- Public cultural organisations, interest groups and cultural policy measures

- Art in society: institutions, professions, the public and dissemination

- Voluntary organisations in the cultural field

- Cultural economic subjects

- Norwegian cultural debate

- International cultural policy (UNESCO, the Council of Europe)

Learning Methods

Lectures, field trips, seminars, written and oral assignments in connection with the lectures.

Participation on a field trip in the region is obligatory. The course includes a one-week internship at a municipal cultural office; the student must write a concluding report.

Assessment Methods

An obligatory written assignment which counts for 30% of the final grade. 4-hour individual written examination which counts for 70% of the final grade. Graded marks. Students must receive passing marks in both the written assignment and the final examination in order to achieve a passing mark for the course.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean