Problems and Roles of the Arts Management Curriculum on the Career Development of Arts Students at Qiqihar University, Heilongjiang Province, the People’s Republic of China

Abstract

The objectives of this research study are 1) to study the problems and roles of the arts management curriculum on the career path of students majoring in arts and 2) to analyze the problems and roles of the arts management curriculum on the career development of arts students at Qiqihar University, Heilongjiang province, the People’s Republic of China. This research was qualitative research by analyzing data on the arts management curriculum using SWOT to assess strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in order to provide guidelines for the development of the arts management curriculum. The results of the research revealed that 1) the arts management curriculum of Qiqihar University contained theoretical and practical content in creating artwork and also contained content in arts management in the areas of design and exhibitions only. It did not cover arts management. Students were not able to market their artwork to the job market in the arts and cultural industries. In addition, the roles of the curriculum in producing graduates for the job market, to be self-employed, and to be artists must be adjusted under the circumstances of society in order to align with professional practices in the present era. 2) In relation to problems and roles of the arts management curriculum, factors affecting the curriculum included internal factors, namely arts management skills, knowledge of marketing, and skills in project management, and external factors, namely the development of digital technology, online platforms, growth of the cultural industry, and government support for cultural and creative industries. External factors also included upgrading knowledge on artistic careers, career integration, intellectual property management, and the management of national and international institutional collaboration projects. These were all factors affecting the roles of graduates entering the job market in the arts and cultural industries.