MA Contemporary Art Practice

Contemporary Art Practice (CAP) is a cutting-edge programme that has the distinction of being the premiere postgraduate fine art course in the world driven by a post-medium, critical approach to the making and reception of art, where theory and practice come together to form new ways of responding to the contemporary. The Programme is delivered via three pathways/areas of research specialism: Critical Practice, Moving Image, and Public Sphere. Our students create work using any media possible: from images, installations, films and performances, to publications and sound works, participatory events, 3D modelling and VR, writing and techno-aesthetics.The work of CAP students is profoundly attentive to the critical condition of our environment, humanity and the world around us and our students and graduates both contribute to and also expand the traditional roles assigned to artists to include modes of practice such as artist as activist, artist as publisher, artist as educator, artist as urban geographer and artist as community organiser. Students are encouraged to situate their practice within the social, political and economic conditions of the contemporary world; identifying what art can contribute to ongoing material, critical, technological and philosophical debates.The CAP programme offers a discursive environment in which to discuss contemporary issues for thinking about, making and displaying fine art supported by individual tutorials, seminars and cross-pathway crits and lectures. Our approach to Contemporary Art Practice is not determined by either technology or material, although you will be expected to utilise the appropriate technical means to make your works. As a CAP student, you will have access to College-wide technical workshops according to academic need, as well as all facilities within the School of Arts & Humanities.