Course 2024-2025 a.y.

The course is divided in three parts: 

1. A short journey in cultural policy: in this module we will explore the different domains of cultural policy and how governments have played a major role in the cultural field in different parts of the world.

2. Cultural philanthropy:  in this module we will learn how to attract gifts from donors. We will explore some advanced topics in fundraising with the aim of highlighting best practices in attracting gifts from corporations, public and private grant makers, major donors. 

3. Developing your skills as activists and advocates. In this module we explore how to assess and express cultural issues and how to persuade policy makers to adopt solutions to disentangle them.

At the end of the course student will be able to:

• Describe a cultural issue  and the main traits of a cultural policy
• Understand what is fundraising and the challenges in soliciting gifts
• Identify the main techniques that can be used to attract funds and generate social impacts

• Demonstrate skills of system and design thinking for social change 
• Develop basic skills in fundraising and philanthropy
• Develop, write, and present a policy proposal 
• Work collaboratively in teams

• Lectures
• Guest speaker's talks (in class or in distance)
• Individual works / Assignments
• Collaborative Works / Assignments

The course has an applied approach: students will have the opportunity to discuss case and experiences, and  meet policy makers. Due to this teaching methodology, which heavily based on interaction and class discussion, class attendance is required.

With the purpose of measuring the acquisition of the above-mentioned learning outcomes, attending students’ assessment is based on two main components:

1. Midterm exam  (50% of the final grade)  consisting of exercises and  open questions aimed to assess students’ understanding of the topics discussed in the first part of the course and related readings
2. Group project  (50% of the final grade) aimed to test the students’ ability to apply knowledge accrued during the course and to develop skills as activists and advocates.

Students’ assessment will be based on a written exam to assess students’ understanding of the topics discussed in the readings. The exam format will be open question/colsed book  and you should come prepared ONLY on the readings material for non attending students.

• Slides uploaded on the Bboard platform.
• Selected readings  available on the Online Course Reserve on the first day of the course .

• Throsby, D. (2010). The Economics of Cultural Policy. Cambridge University Press. (ALL)
• Pecoraro F., Turrini, A., Volpe, M. (2023) Fundraising for the Arts, Bocconi University Press (ALL)

• Hoefer, R. (2015) Advocacy Practice for Social Justice, Oxford University Press (ALL)