Hypothemuse, the Association of current and former students of the Masters program, of which Robert Abirached is honorary president. The Association is responsible for the annual publication of a comprehensive directory that outlines students’ (present and past) internship and/or employment status along with their contact information. It serves as an invaluable networking tool and post-graduate forum. Three newsletters are produced and circulated each year informing Association members of current activities complete with interviews and profiles of professionals in today’s cultural field.

The “Cultural Consulting and Social Environments” Masters program (D.E.S.S. Consultant culturel et environnement social) was created in 1992 by Mr. Robert Abirached, the former theater director of the Minister of Culture and professor at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre, and presided over by Ms. Anne Marie Green, associate professor at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre and a specialist in the Sociology of Music. The pilot mission of the Masters program was to educate future professionals for integration into cultural consulting firms in full expansion. Ms. Martine Segalen, professor at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre and a specialist in questions surrounding the link between Ethnology and Cultural Heritage, took over as director of the Masters program in 1995 adding a more sociological inflection to the course load, insisting upon the examination of the social environments in which cultural projects are developed and put into action. This, in turn, afforded a wider application of the program’s offering in professional contexts. Mr. Gabriel Segré, associate professor at the Universite of Paris X-Nanterre and a specialist in Cultural Sociology has occupied the position of co-director since 2005. Since the higher education reform that went into effect at the outset of the 2005-2006 academic year, the Cultural Consulting and Social Environments D.E.S.S. became a professional Masters degree (“Master 2 professionnel”) specializing in Sociology under the title “Cultural Project Management / Analysis of Publics and Audiences” (“Conduite de projets culturels / Connaissance des publics”). The program is completed in a single academic year (the second year of the French Masters degree).

The “Master 2 Professionnel” prepares graduate level students (the equivalent of the French third cycle) for specific professional domains. This Masters program in Cultural Project Management / Analysis of Publics and Audiences is : - specialized : it demands a strong academic background (in Sociology, Contemporary Ethnology, and/or in other cultural fields). This program complements knowledge acquired in sociological and cultural courses of study as well as the study of cultural heritage : its protection, preservation, and changing nature. - professionally oriented : it addresses the various issues and problems surrounding the development of cultural projects, giving special attention to their particular social environments and training the students in several analytical and practical methods. Various characteristics of the present-day cultural situation in France : * the increasing role of cultural policies conceived in the name of “decentralization” and the continued effort to stimulate under-developed cultural environments * the development of federal policies for urban integration through socio-cultural programs * the development of tourism and cultural industries * the opening of the European market and its changing relationships with international partners These politically, socially, and economically motivated administrative objectives constitute a complex and evolving terrain. They necessitate thoughtful analyses centered around both the specific forms of action, and the contradictions and flaws encountered in the process of administrative intervention. New professional knowledge and tools are in order for those who wish to work in this changing field that call for not only the mastery of contemporary cultural issues but also a comprehensive understanding of theory and applied methodology. Careful study and analysis of the contemporary cultural environment is needed to respond to the demand expressed by key participants on the cultural scene (creators, mediators, decision and policy-makers) for new perspectives on : * defining objectives, * putting programs into action, mobilizing financial support and carrying out current projects, and * evaluating the impact of such programs. The integrity of this Masters program is centered around knowledge, practical skills, and professional experience. For these reasons it is considered a continuation of undergraduate studies (the equivalent of the French second cycle through Master 1 studies) : * in Cultural Sociology * in Social Sciences (Theater, Art History, Communication, Cinema, Cultural Economy, Cultural Psychology) * in Ethnology and Contemporary Societies The program operates with the dedicated participation of university staff, researchers, department chairs, professionals in the cultural sector, and principal decision-makers in cultural policy… Ø- APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS AND PREREQUISITES - Ø Acceptance into the “Master 2 Professionnel” is conditional upon the completion of undergraduate studies (the equivalent of the French second cycle through Master 1 studies): * after majoring in Sociology, Ethnology, or other cultural fields, or * after the completion of a degree from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris or an Institute d’Etudes Politiques in Province with a memoir/thesis at the “maîtrise” level The acknowledgement of a non-academic equivalent may be granted upon request in cases where highly specialized knowledge has been obtained through a significant professional activity. Each year, a maximum of twenty students are invited to participate in this Masters program. In order to better evaluate each candidate, the admissions committee requires a certain number of documents (in addition to the standard university application materials : one identification photo, one photocopy of an ID card/passport, stamped and self-addressed envelopes, the application fee, photocopies of all previous diplomas and transcripts) : w 1 resume/curriculum vitae detailing the primary aspects of all previous education relative to cultural issues w 1 cover letter in which the candidate should outline all internship and professional experience relative to the cultural domain, including references (theoretical or otherwise) that guide his or her pursuits and indicating his or her professional goals in cultural fields w 1 recommendation letter submitted by a professor, teacher or professional mentor with whom the candidate has worked w 1 overview of academic/professional research (on one page) detailing the candidate’s various written works (memoirs, research papers, published articles, etc.) including outlines when applicable Three main criteria factor into decisions made by the admissions committee : - education and/or experience in Ethnology or Sociology (particularly Cultural Sociology), or the candidate’s express commitment to the amelioration of his or her knowledge in these domains - confirmed academic and/or professional experience in cultural domains and in cultural heritage, including the personal practice of a fine and/or performing art (theater, music, dance, photography, painting, etc.) - concordance between cultural interests expressed by the candidate and current research in cultural fields, and more specifically in Sociology, Ethnology, the Performing Arts, Cultural Economy, etc. Each candidate must supply proof of his or her mastery (written and oral) of any and all foreign languages cited in his or her resume/curriculum vitae. Each application will be examined and assessed individually. After a preliminary selection, the retained candidates will be invited to present themselves to the admissions committee comprised of teachers, researchers, and professionals responsible for the courses of the Masters program. After this interview process, a definitive list of accepted and waitlisted candidates will be established.

The academic program is comprised of various courses applied toward university credits, totaling 400 hours of class time.
Group 1: Theoretical and Methodological courses (86 hours)
- Film and Audiovisual Production and Distribution Francois CAMPANA
- Cultural Policies Emmanuel WALLON
- Media and Culture Angélique OUSSEDIK
- Economy and Financing of Cultural Professions Jean-Francois CHOUGNET
- Ethnology and Cultural Heritage Martine SEGALEN
- Research in the Cultural Field Gabriel SEGRE
- Methodology of Sociological Studies Gabriel SEGRE
- Statistics and Sociological Studies Frédéric CHARLES
In the framework of the last two courses listed above, the students must complete a group project based on a hands-on sociological study in collaboration with a cultural institution, generally through the administration and analysis of a formal public questionnaire. The courses are taught in lecture and/or seminar format and address both the theoretical and practical aspects of the subject.

Group 2: Courses taught by leading cultural professionals (122 hours)
Relative to interdisciplinary questions:
- Introduction to Intellectual Property Law in Literature and the Arts Valérie GAME
- International Cultural Relations Georges DIENER
- Evaluation and Development of Publics and Audiences Evelyne LEHALLE
- Image and Communication Sylvaine CONORD
Relative to specific cultural fields :
- Introduction to the Publishing Industry Yannick DEHEE
- Performing Arts Organizations Didier JUILLARD
- Cultural Heritage: Valorization and Development Philippe IFRI
- Digital Culture and Online Publishing Sophie KRIKORIAN
- Performing Arts and Community Arts Organizations Véronique FLAGEOLLET
Attendance is obligatory for all courses. Each course is validated by a grade (final project/written assignment) or an exam. Three unjustified absences will result in dismissal from the Masters program. In addition to the courses, a class trip is organized each year to meet the policy-makers and key figures of the cultural scene in a given city, including professionals from theaters, libraries, arts centers, museums, etc. Professional Internship An internship, in a cultural organization or enterprise or in a private or public research center, etc., is required for completion of the Masters degree. The internship must be for a minimum of three months, from June 1st onward, and is validated through the submission of an internship report no later than December 15th of the same year. In the framework of the “Master Without Walls” initiative, numerous meetings with key cultural figures are organized throughout the year affording students privileged settings in which they may learn from, and develop professional contacts with, directorships of cultural institutions.

DIRECTOR : Martine SEGALEN CO-DIRECTOR : Gabriel SEGRE ACADEMIC COORDINATION : Gabriel SEGRE, Sophie KRIKORIAN ADMINISTRATION : Céline DEL FRANCO (cdelfran@u-paris10.fr) TEACHERS : - François CAMPANA, Associate Professor at the Université of Paris III and Director of the association KYRNEA-CINEVILLE - Sylvaine CONORD, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre - Jean-François CHOUGNET, Director of the Parc de la Villette in Paris - Yannick DEHEE, President of Nouveau Monde Editions - Georges DIENER - Véronique FLAGEOLLET-CASASSUS, Director of ADIAM 95 - Valérie GAME, Legal advisor for the Bibliothèque Nationale de France - Philippe IFRI, Cultural Consultant - Didier JUILLARD, General Secretary of the Théâtre National de Strasbourg - Sophie KRIKORIAN, Creative Director, PAST (Université of Paris X-Nanterre) - Evelyne LEHALLE, Director of Cultural Decentralization in the Department of Development and Cultural Action of the French Ministry of Culture - Angélique OUSSEDIK, Director of Cultural Development of the television station ARTE - Martine SEGALEN, Professor of Sociology at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre - Gabriel SEGRE, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre - Emmanuel WALLON, Professor of Political Science at the Université of Paris X-Nanterre

The student’s proposed internship must be approved by the director of the Masters program. A contract between the host organization and the university must be established. Chosen methodology, and the general presentation of the internship report must conform to both university and professional standards. The academic rigor of this Masters program demands the complete availability of the student during class hours. Attendance at all This work takes place within the academic framework of the university and must be considered as a professional experience : the nature of issues raised, the timeframe in which it is completed, the lectures and seminars is obligatory. Abuse of this policy may impact the conference of the diploma.

The specificity of this Masters program, for individuals interested in working for cultural institutions, is found in its tailored education of such future professionals. It is an education that combines an ethnological sensibility with sociological skills, affording graduates the ability to evaluate what a general public is seeking from an institution or, inversely, what an institution is seeking from the public through its cultural projects. Additionally, the Masters program refines graduates’ ability to propose cultural projects adapted to specific social environments; projects apt to address the issue of cultural heritage and various forms of performing arts. The present-day examination of cultural policies and the private sector points to the opportunities available to individuals with an academic background in Ethnology and Cultural Sociology. The job market is changing rapidly, however. Professional opportunities with research centers that serve as counsel for cultural policy-makers are on the decline. On the other hand, there is an increased initiative on behalf of local and community arts organizations, independent associations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and public institutions to create positions for cultural professionals. These positions may be with museums, “eco-museums”, or any institution seeking to underline the value of its local heritage, be it architectural or natural. Such positions are also being developed within the urban political framework emphasizing the role that culture must claim therein. The breadth of the cultural field necessitates a discussion of professional abilities and functions rather than pre-determined job-related duties. In order to secure an interesting and stable job, one must first envision oneself in a particular region or European country. According to the alumni experience, internships completed during the program often lead to more permanent job opportunities. Cooperations have been established between the Masters program and numerous ”eco-museums” and social museums. The Masters program is a member of the European Network of Cultural Administration Training (ENCACT), in collaboration with the Counsel of Europe. Website of the Univérsité of Paris X-Nanterre: www.u-paris10.fr Students who wish to apply for a graduate-level scholarship must address their inquiries to: Service des Bourses: Bâtiment A 109/110, Tel: (+33) 01.40.97.47.78