Outline
Our studio programme welcomes speculative and reflective approaches to art-making across all media.
It provides opportunity for reflection, review and refinement of contemporary art practice towards public exhibition and professional portfolio.
The programme is aimed at artists who want to develop a more ambitious practice by extending their practical, theoretical, organisational and economic knowledge in relation to contemporary art.
As a student on this programme you will be supported through multiple opportunities for developing confidence as an artist, including:
- group presentations
- collaborative exhibitions
- peer-to-peer exchange.
You will build on your existing skillset as you refine your approach and, ultimately, develop your artistic voice. At the end of the programme you will have a portfolio of work that is ready for wider public dissemination.
A defining aspect of our programme is the emphasis it places upon speculative scepticism - not proceeding from the position of knowing what art is but being motivated by speculation on what it might be. We generate an atmosphere that supports mutual co-operation, a dynamic, intellectually ambitious environment in which staff and students can learn together.
Our students often work collaboratively, therefore we are keen to select applicants based on their ability to work well as part of a creative team as much as we are interested in individual artistic and academic potential. The focus on building a supportive creative community, on the rigorous and experimental combination of theory and practice and the international profile of the student body makes our master's programme unique.
Programme structure
The autumn semester provides initial time for experimentation and reflection, followed by the spring period where you will focus on positioning your work outside of the studio or typical gallery space for diverse audiences. In the third and final semester you will focus on independent research as you develop your Masters Project, culminating in the Graduate Exhibition.
Teaching and Learning
Learning happens primarily through the exchange of ideas in studio seminars, group crits and 1-1 tutorials.
We emphasise the centrality of dialogue to developing innovative work. We are committed to supporting an environment to nurture risk-taking as fundamental to producing ambitious original art. Critical conversations and debates are informed by:
- Talks and presentations delivered by our team of award-winning teaching-artists.
- A programme of lectures by prominent artists, critics and curators from across the UK and further afield.
- Technical sessions in the workshops that support casting, metalwork, woodwork, textiles, photography and a spectrum of printing processes.
- Visits to galleries and museums in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
- Exhibition opportunities within ECA and with our industry partners in and around Edinburgh.
Independent experimentation, reflection and research.
Assessment
You will be assessed on written texts, work presented for exhibition and a digital portfolio.
Learning outcomes
- A critical awareness of current practices in contemporary art with an evolving understanding of conceptual and practical precedents, locally and globally.
- Ability to identify and apply appropriate methods of research, investigation and development in planning and executing original and creative work.
- Skills to be able to analyse and evaluate concepts and debates in contemporary art, with a deeper understanding of their significance within a wider cultural field.
- An extended understanding of the relationship of contexts and publics to how contemporary art is produced and disseminated.
- The confidence to exercise autonomy and initiative in developing an enquiry-led practice and a professional approach to working with others, respectfully, responsibly and ethically.
