Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Entrepreneurship and Cultural Innovation
Course code O27
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Important
This course is not currently offered for study on-campus in Australia to international students with a student visa.
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About this Course
Step into the future of the creative industries with ECU’s Graduate Diploma of Creative Entrepreneurship and Innovation.
A first-of-its-kind program in Australia designed for artists, producers and cultural innovators who want to transform ideas into impactful ventures. This course bridges artistic creativity and entrepreneurship, equipping you with the skills to lead, innovate and thrive in a rapidly evolving global creative economy. Delivered by the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) at ECU’s City Campus, the course combines advanced theory with hands-on practice through industry collaborations, incubator-style learning and real-world projects. You’ll explore design thinking, digital and social innovation and cultural leadership while developing your own entrepreneurial concept. With specialist pathways in Creative Producing, Digital Scenography and Social Innovation, the course offers flexibility to tailor your learning to your professional ambitions. Through mentorship, networking and immersive experiences, you’ll gain the strategic insight, creative confidence and industry connections. Whether you aspire to produce groundbreaking performances, design immersive digital environments, or lead socially impactful projects, this course positions you at the forefront of creative arts entrepreneurship.
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level
This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.
Course code
O27Entry requirements
ECU admission and English language requirements apply.
See Course Entry for further information.
Admissions
Fees
See Fees and Scholarships for further information.
Availability & Campus
| Location | Semester 1 | Semester 2 |
|---|---|---|
| City Campus | FT | |
| Joondalup | ||
| South West | ||
| Sri Lanka | ||
| Online |
Timetable
This course has a modified timetable. See Course Notes.
Course Entry
Admission requirements you'll need to meet for this course.
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The following course-specific admission requirements are mandatory and must be satisfied by all applicants. These requirements are in addition to or supersede the minimum requirements outlined within the Academic admission requirements band section below.
It is desirable that all applicants are recent graduates and professionals working in the creative and cultural industries or social enterprise. Applicants should have an undergraduate degree in the creative arts, performing arts, humanities or social sciences, or in related creative areas of practice, including but not limited to performance, theatre producing, directing, scenography, lighting, sound, creative technologies, design or production. Applicants without a degree in a relevant pathway must demonstrate at least five years of professional experience, with at least three of those years being relevant to creative, cultural or innovative practice. Each applicant is expected to bring an entrepreneurial concept to the program to develop as a live case study and must outline their area of creative practice and their proposed entrepreneurial concept in a short pitch. This should be a filmed presentation lasting no more than three minutes. Each applicant will be required to attend an interview to be conducted in person or online.
Academic admission requirements (Band 6) may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- Bachelor degree; or
- Equivalent prior learning including at least five years relevant professional experience.
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English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:
- IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
- Bachelor degree from a country specified on the English Proficiency Bands page;
- Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
- Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
- Other tests, courses or programs defined on the English Proficiency Bands page.
Course Details
Semester availability
Semester 1: Study full-time , City Campus
Course Structure
O27|1
For more detailed unit information for this course take a look at our Handbook. To organise your life for next semester visit the Teaching timetable.
Student handbookCourse notes
Important course notes
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Students may be required to attend evening and weekend performances and rehearsals. These may be at locations external to ECU.
Course learning outcomes
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of creative arts entrepreneurship, cultural innovation and creative practice, and apply this knowledge to analyse challenges in culturally diverse and global professional contexts using ethical, sustainable and inclusive approaches.
- Integrate theoretical frameworks, research methods and digital innovation trends to investigate complex or unfamiliar problems and inform the design and development of creative or entrepreneurial initiatives.
- Communicate, collaborate and coordinate effectively in professional and interdisciplinary contexts, demonstrating clarity, adaptability and emerging leadership in the application of professional conventions.
- Demonstrate advanced cultural capability and reflective practice, integrating feedback and diverse perspectives to adapt, enhance and sustain professional practice in complex and interdisciplinary contexts.
Fees and Scholarships
Fees
Fees for this course have yet to be confirmed for the next calendar year and are scheduled to be available on the Course Fee Calculator from October.
Scholarships
ECU has a scholarship program that provides many opportunities each year to students undertaking studies here.
Find a scholarshipCareer Opportunities
Graduates will be prepared for a wide range of roles across the creative industries, cultural sectors and innovation-driven arts and creative enterprises. Many will choose to establish themselves as creative entrepreneurs, launching and scaling their own ventures such as production companies, digital arts enterprises or socially driven cultural initiatives. Others may pursue careers as creative producers, leading the development and delivery of performances, festivals and cultural events while managing budgets, partnerships and audience engagement. For those interested in technology and design, opportunities exist as digital experience designers or scenographers, creating immersive environments and interactive experiences for theatre, live events and hybrid digital platforms. Graduates may also work as innovation consultants, advising arts organisations, cultural institutions and creative businesses on strategies for growth, sustainability and digital transformation. The course also opens pathways into arts management and cultural leadership roles, overseeing operations in performing arts organisations, galleries, museums and cultural centres while driving strategic, entrepreneurial and cultural initiatives. Social impact designers will find opportunities to develop creative projects and enterprises that address social challenges, working closely with NGOs, councils and community organisations. Additionally, graduates with a strong interest in technology can pursue careers as creative technologists, applying emerging technologies to artistic production, audience engagement and enterprise development. Beyond these roles, graduates may contribute to cultural policy development and arts advocacy at local, national or international levels. Many will build portfolio careers, combining freelance creative practice with entrepreneurial ventures, consultancy and leadership roles in the global creative economy.
Possible future job titles
Creative Entrepreneur, Arts Entrepreneur, Cultural Entrepreneur, Creative Business Founder, Creative Enterprise Manager, Innovation Strategist, Creative Industries Consultant, Creative Producer, Performing Arts Producer, Festival Producer
Need some help deciding what to study?
Our future student events include a mix of on-campus and online sessions designed to help you decide what to study at ECU.
Creative thinkers start here
Quick guide to uni-speak
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The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national regulator of qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the higher education systems in Australia.
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ATAR is the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank, the primary criterion for entry into most undergraduate university courses in Australia. The ATAR is a percentile score which denotes a student's ranking relative to their state-wide peers upon completion of their secondary education.
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CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. A CRICOS code is allocated to education institutions (like ECU) who are approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education to overseas students. Courses with a CRICOS code are available to international students who meet the entry requirements.
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A major, or unit set, is your chosen area of in-depth study in an undergraduate course. It usually involves 8 units of study, or one-third of the units in a 3-year degree. Talk to your Student Information Office if you need help choosing a major subject.
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Minors include between 4 and 6 study units in a specific discipline. Not all courses require you to complete a minor. Your minor subject doesn't appear on your printed degree (parchment), but is part of your academic transcript.
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If you're enrolled in 3 or more units in a semester this is considered full-time study. To complete most 3-year degrees studying full-time you'll need to complete 4 units per semester, i.e. 24 units over 3 years.
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If a course is available to study part-time you can generally expect it to take twice as long to complete as it would in full-time mode. Part-time students are enrolled in 1 or 2 units maximum per semester.
Note: International students who hold a student visa can only choose the full-time study option for our courses. This is to ensure the course is completed within the duration of the student visa.
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Most courses start in Semester 1 each year, usually in the last week of February. Some courses can be started in Semester 2 (we call this mid-year). There's a week of Orientation before each semester to help you get used to uni life.
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A lot of our courses start in Semester 2 each year, usually in the last week of July. We call this mid-year. There's a week of Orientation beforehand to help you get used to uni life.
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We use a points system to make it easier for you to understand your study progress. Most Bachelors degree study units are allocated 15 credit points. If you're studying a 3-year full-time degree you'll need to successfully complete 360 credit points - that's 24 units x 15 points per unit.
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These are compulsory units you have to successfully complete as part of your course.
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An elective is a unit you choose to study that counts towards your course requirements, but isn't compulsory. For some courses we recommend elective units. In some situations, a course coordinator may approve an elective unit as a replacement for a compulsory one.
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Do you have any questions about the Graduate Diploma in Creative Arts Entrepreneurship and Cultural Innovation?
The Important Things
Things you should know about if you're thinking about studying here.
Course Entry
There's more than one admission pathway into an ECU course. It depends on what you've studied already, or your work or life experience.
Fees & Scholarships
Course tuition fees can change, but we can give you an estimate of your costs. If you're eligible, a scholarship or student loan can help too.
Applying
Applying for a course is a fairly simple process, especially if you have scanned copies of qualifications, your resume or other paperwork, ready to upload.
ECU Experience
Starting a course is an exciting and sometimes daunting time, so we make a massive effort to ensure you get all the support you need to have a positive experience.