The arts and culture sector is undergoing significant change, with leaders facing increasing demands to balance artistic vision, financial sustainability, and societal impact. Aalto EE’s Business of Culture program brings together cultural leaders from across the Nordic and Baltic region to address these challenges.
We asked director Maria Karsten, who is responsible for the program’s enrollments and scholarship applications, what the Business of Culture program is all about.
What challenge in the cultural sector is the program designed to address?
The Business of Culture program was created to respond to the increasing challenges and uncertainty in the arts and culture sector. Many cultural leaders often need to find a balance between artistic quality, financial realities, social expectations, and developing their organizations.
The program aims to strengthen leaders’ strategic thinking, business acumen, and decision-making confidence, without losing sight of the core values of the culture.
It brings together artistic, operational, and strategic perspectives, which do not always naturally align. The program supports leaders bring these different perspectives together by improving their strategic thinking, decision-making, and everyday leadership.
Who is the program aimed at, and who benefits most from it?
The program is designed for leaders and senior professionals working in arts and culture organizations in the Nordic and Baltic region. Participants typically have several years of leadership or senior specialist experience.
Those who benefit most are people responsible for developing their organization or area of work, who are motivated to grow as leaders while advancing collaboration between culture and other sectors.
How does the program combine creative work with business and leadership skills?
The Business of Culture program integrates creativity and cultural understanding with strategic management, leadership development, and financial literacy. Through themes such as CoPassionate Leadership, Distinctive Business, and Strategic Relations, participants explore how these perspectives can support their organization’s artistic purpose and mission.
How is the learning experience different from traditional, more general executive education programs?
The program is built around the realities of the cultural sector, while also bringing in perspectives from other fields. Learning is based not only on faculty input, but also on exchange between participants. This creates a space for meaningful dialogue across the Nordic and Baltic region, enabling participants to build strong connections and position themselves within a broader cultural network.
There is a strong focus on peer learning, reflection, and practical application. Participants work on their own cases, take part in discussions with others in similar roles, and receive individual coaching.
Modules take place in different Nordic cities such as Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsinki, and the group forms a network that often continues after the program. Many participants find this combination of practical work, dialogue, and reflection particularly valuable and transformational.
What impact does the program aim to have?
The program aims to support cultural leaders manage and lead change in a clear and practical way.
For participants, this means stronger leadership skills, better decision-making, and a broader professional network.
At the sector level, the program encourages collaboration and exchange across organizations, disciplines, and countries. This helps build stronger connections within the field and supports the sector’s ability to respond to change while maintaining its role and relevance in society.
