Galleries, zoos, world heritage sites, national historic sites, municipal and not-for-profit museums, national and provincial parks; federal, provincial and municipal cultural funding agencies, arts services organizations, government departments as well as related not-for-profit arts, cultural and heritage organizations all seek professionals who have completed Culture Course – such as those offered in Centennial College’s Culture and Heritage Site Management program. This offering serves to prepare students with a very particular skill set that in turn equips them to manage culture and heritage resources.
There are 13 heritage management courses offered in this program that employ case studies and real world experiences to ensure students are prepared for the field. Here is a look at five in particular.
Financial Management and Planning for the Culture and Heritage Sector: Bookkeeping, accounting and financial principles that underlie sound management decision making in sector organizations are covered in this heritage management course. Topics include bookkeeping and preparation/analysis of financial statements relevant to a culture and heritage organization, budgets and budgeting, cash flow, electronic financial reporting and more.
Culture and Heritage Marketing and Strategy: A study of marketing principles and practices helps students of this heritage management course to learn about developing strategic objectives in relation to a site or facility’s mission, resources, opportunities and challenges. A spectrum marketing techniques for sector establishments using the most current intelligence on positioning, branding and e-marketing highlights marketing solutions through case studies.
Collections and Exhibit Management: Educational and Interpretive Programming: In this heritage management course, learners examine how organizations create memorable learning experiences for visitors, develop community outreach approaches and plan for the delivery, staffing, management and evaluation of programs. Policy development, learning theory, communication and interpretative skills, and the methodology of program design are covered. As a result, students explore and consider how museums and heritage organizations embrace learning as a valued outcome to develop effective, long-term community partnerships.
National Historic Site Management: This heritage management course offers an understanding managing National Historic Sites (NHS). NHS site designation and the attendant impact on marketability and revenue generation are examined as are the social and environmental impacts of increased visitor traffic and material or resource degradation in relation to visitor arrival levels approaching the site’s carrying capacity. Case studies in the course allow for discussion of stakeholder communities and perspectives on sustainability, marketing issues, destination management and visitor management.
Culture and Heritage Industry Field Placement: By spending time in the field, students are able to relate heritage management and culture course theory to actual workplace circumstances. Additionally, Industry Field Placement provides the opportunity for execution of the mentorship experience with placement supervisor serving as mentor, which offers students the benefit of guidance with an appropriate sector practitioner throughout the semester.
All of these heritage management courses are designed for those who have already completed a post-secondary diploma or degree. As such, applicants must present a transcript. Also considered for these heritage management courses will be applicants with partial post secondary education and relevant work experience in the field. Resumes may be requested.