/ course description
MA Contemporary Art Practice provides a multi- and inter-disciplinary programme for arts practitioners to develop their skills, knowledge and understanding across the wide and discursive range of methods, techniques, media and approaches that contribute to contemporary arts and its changing and growing contexts and audiences. Students may develop their practice through film, video, sound, interactive and digital media, photography, sculpture, print, paint, textiles, and mixed-media combinations of any of these disciplines. Once on the programme students are able to negotiate a final award title to reflect their particular approach and practice interest or can graduate with the generic award MA Contemporary Art Practice.
This student-centred programme enables students to explore, reflect upon, propose and establish their own artistic identity through critical engagement with ideas, concepts and traditions through group and individual learning. Students bring a wealth of experiences - professional and personal - to contribute to the dynamic and supportive learning environment of the group, whilst also drawing upon the diverse range of staff expertise and their research interests.
Within the MA, the synergy between research and practice is very important and students will use many different research methods and approaches, both visual and textual.
/ course leader
Dr Sarah Bennett is currently Programme Leader for MA Contemporary Art Practice. She is also Associate Head of School of Art and Media, and Associate Professor in Fine Art. In her arts practice she explores institutional sites, both historical and contemporary, through embodied actions and digital recording methods. Her practice-based doctoral research project focussed on a former Victorian Asylum and was completed in 2010. It has led to a number of interdisciplinary projects and conference papers relating to social geography, visual anthroplogy, clinical psychology and architecture. She works with Transart Institute, NYC, on MFA Creative Practice and their new practice-led PhD programme, both validated by Plymouth University.
For information on Sarah's latest work click here.
© Sarah Bennett 2012
the course