Course: MA Cultural Policy and Arts Management
1.5 spacing
Havard style citing/referencing
Only use referencing from UCD Library, One search.
Policy Review.: 40%, word limit: 2000-2500 words
To be submitted on 16 April
Deadline for policy review approval: 21 March by email
Select an Irish cultural policy of your own choice that is not one we reviewed with in-class groups. The
review should critically set out the context, main points and arguments of the policy and then critically
discuss the issues it raises for a particular group (artists, arts managers, etc). Draw on relevant academic
reading, media, other reviews, and / or sector-based reports, Dáil debates, anything you feel is useful /
relevant. Make recommendations for how you would address the issues you raise.
What policy document should I choose?
The cultural policy could be an organisational or governmental policy or implementation plan /
programme / initiative. You may choose a cultural policy document from a specific industry sector (e.g.
arts or media) or location (e.g. local authority, city, town, cross-border, etc…) and examine it in relation
to some of the theories and issues identified through this module. While I will be somewhat flexible on
what you might choose, this is not an assessment to review organisational business plans, strategies or
activities. Further, it is REQUIRED that you receive approval from Tori before proceeding with your
review. Students should choose a document / initiative that we have not reviewed in class.
How should I ‘review’ it?
There is a reading list in the ‘wider reading for the module’ which provides some policy analysis
guidance. You may use content analysis to examine how the policy talks about / presents a particular
cultural policy topic or existing policy evaluations to consider the effectiveness of its implementation. It
may take the form of a theoretical exploration of a policy agenda, or a case study of practical
implementation of policy objectives, or an critical review of a programme of work. Students should feel
free to focus on an area of investigation that links directly with the reasons that they have decided to
attend the MA. Whatever you choose, your writing must draw on broader academic debates and make
recommendations to address the issues you raise. Be clear who and what those recommendations are
for and why.
Questions to consider:
How is this document, activity, project a ‘cultural policy’
What are the aims and objectives of the policy?
What is the broader context of this policy?
Who and / or what interests do you feel the policy serves and in what ways? Please provide examples
from the document indicating how you have reached this conclusion.
Please choose a particular group to which you feel this policy is relevant (eg. Artists, arts managers,
particular industries). What challenges and / or opportunities does or do you foresee this policy
presenting that group. Why / how?
What recommendations do you have for how to address the points you have raised. Please justify these
recommendations.
Please ensure you make reference to academic reading in your analysis, in addition to any other
relevant reports / media articles.
How will the reviews be assessed?
The following areas will be considered:
Answering the task: the extent to which the work has dealt directly and clearly with the assigned task
and provided a focused argument to the particular intellectual problem posed. This includes ensuring
that Tori approved your ‘policy’ in advance.
Subject Knowledge: the extent to which you have contextualised the policy with well-informed
discussion of and reference to wider reading about your chosen policy area
Argument: The extent to which you explain how you are reviewing the policy document and the extent
to which you justify the policy recommendations you make. This justification includes clarity as to who
and what those recommendations are for and why. Remember, you can’t point out everything that you
might do differently, but make and justify a clear choice in relation to those recommendations.
Analytic Content: The extent to which the review moves beyond a description of the policy (which will
be necessary initially) to also critically examine the values and practices that it implies. This will involve
engagement with academic literature related to the policy and the context and topic under
investigation, beyond what was discussed in class. While practice-based literature is of course relevant
and acceptable, the essay must engage with academic work.
Clarity: Extent of clear and appropriate use of language. Abstract concepts are explained accurately and
unambiguously, policy itself is clearly described
Structure and presentation: the extent to which the work demonstrates coherent organisation of the
material and an overall argument that will proceed logically from introduction to conclusion. Clear and
appropriate referencing.
Examples of policy reviews are:
Carew, M. (2008). The glamour of ancient greatness. Archaeology Ireland, 22(1), 20-22.
Hadley, S., Collins, P., & O’Brien, M. (2020). Culture 2025 A National Cultural Policy Framework for
Ireland. Cultural Trends, 1-15.
Moynihan, M. (2019/20). POLICY REVIEW: In Diversity is Strength – Equality, Human Rights and Diversity
in the Arts. Irish Journal of Arts Management & Cultural Policy, 7: pp. 5- 19.
Rush, K. (2018/19). POLICY REVIEW: Creative Ireland. Irish Journal of Arts Management & Cultural Policy,