Contemporary Arts Practice

In your first year we’ll encourage you to work in a number of disciplines, gaining extensive knowledge and fundamental skills. You’ll experiment, focusing on broadening your making and thinking skills.

You’ll study context and theory within practice-based modules, supported by lectures and seminars that will introduce you to contemporary arts practice theory.

In years 2 and 3 you’ll have the opportunity to specialise in one discipline, or maintain a broader portfolio through to graduation. Specialist strands of study include: drawing, painting, ceramics, sculpture, graphic art, mixed media textiles, printmaking, photography, performance and moving image.

Running in parallel to your study, you’ll take advantage of professional development opportunities – you can expand your skills in areas such as web-design, marketing and project management. By gaining the necessary expertise, you’ll maximise your potential as an artist or maker after graduation.

Year one
You’ll choose modules from two of the following four core subject areas. Subject areas are 2D (painting and drawing), 3D (ceramics and sculpture), graphic arts and mixed media textiles. Optional modules are photography and moving Image, printmaking (etch) and screenprint. Alongside these subjects you will attend contextual studies lectures.

Years two and three
You can continue with two areas of study, or specialise in any of the subjects you studied in year one. Contextual studies lectures continue and you’ll also begin a programme of professional practice, with opportunities to publicly exhibit your work. In your final year you’ll complete a dissertation. You’ll be able to develop your professional practice, in preparation for your career after your degree.

You’ll be assessed entirely by coursework such as portfolios, exhibitions, written papers and live presentations. There are no written exams.

You’ll be taught through practical workshop sessions, individual supervision, seminars and lectures. You’ll also have access to an extensive weekly programme of visiting lectures from practising artists, curators, critics and gallery owners.

You’ll have the opportunity to study in a wide range of locations around the world. Our students have completed Erasmus+ and Exchange programmes in a variety of countries including Norway, Germany, Japan, Australia and the USA.

You’ll have opportunities to participate in regular field trips across all the course modules. Subject areas also organise international study visits to places like Berlin, Paris, New York and Venice (please note that you’ll have to pay for some study visits).

There are opportunities for you to undertake work placements as part of the professional practice programme.

Graduate careers include:

• self employment as practising artists and makers;   
• curatorship;  
• gallery administration;  
• teaching;  
• art administration; 
• community based art work.

We’ll encourage you to participate in competitions such as the Porthleven Prize and the Gane Trust Travel Grant among many others.

The preliminary and intensive Integrated Foundation Year in Art and Design is designed to develop your ideas, skills and confidence in readiness for progressing to year one of your degree programme.

This year provides you with the opportunity to identify, apply for, and secure professional experience, normally comprising one to three placements over a minimum of nine months. Successful completion of this module will demonstrate your ability to secure and sustain graduate-level employment.

By completing the module, you'll be entitled to the addition of “with Professional Placement Year” to your degree title.

Before your Professional Placement Year, you'll work to secure your placement, constructing a development plan with your module leader and your placement coordinator from our Careers and Employability team.

On your return to University for your final year, you'll submit your Placement Portfolio, detailing your development on your placement, for assessment.

Most of the strands within the Contemporary Arts Practice course (Art, Ceramics, Graphic Arts, Mixed Media Textiles, Photography and Print) are taught at Dartmouth Avenue and Sion Hill campuses.

You’ll have access to an excellent range of studios and workshops in painting, sculpture, textiles, photography and printmaking.