Contemporary Art Practice MA

Block 1: Research Lab 1

This creative research module is designed to initiate you into creative research methods and enables you to develop your own reflective and critical methodology. You will learn via a combination of workshops and lectures about existing artistic methodologies and then develop your own research that utilises a wide range of contextual and theoretical sources. You will be encouraged to develop personal philosophies with regard to your own creative practice and the ways in which you might seek to find creative solutions within your work. You will be supported in developing an understanding of the precedents, frameworks and debates that form the nature of the context for your discipline/s. A series of structured learning activities provide a multi-disciplinary platform that will support you in extending and developing your portfolio of creative research skills.

Block 2: Experimental and Curatorial Practice

This module supports you to develop and evaluate a contemporary art practice, and the production of an individual body of work, as a means to a tacit and articulate understanding of the contemporary subject at an advanced level. You are encouraged to extend the learning of Research Lab 1 and demonstrate creative strategies relevant to the context of contemporary fine art. The module supports you in the production and articulation of a peer exhibition that employs the use of critical reflection in the editing and selecting of work in the context of contemporary debates and strategies of display. At the end of the module, you will collaborate with your fellow students in the production of a group show in a gallery space.

Block 3: Research Lab 2

This module follows on from Research Lab 1 and develops the ideas you have initiated into an extended piece of critical writing. The aim of the module is to support you in critical research and developing and refining writing for a targeted audience and platform. You will learn about a variety of potential locations for your written work and will use a variety of different forms of writing which could include a journal article, a review, an essay, a piece of art writing or critical creative text. You will gain an in-depth theoretical insight into your practice and its contexts.  

Block 4: Research Residency

In this module you will negotiate a project with an external partner, understand how a residency functions and learn how to set up a project independently. Putting into practice you research objectives from previous modules, you are encouraged to engage with the site in conceptual and material processes. You will be required to do research on the site to situate your response. You will produce both a project outline that demonstrates the research done prior to the residency and the work you set out to make. The exhibition should evidence a genuine engagement with site and situational specificity.  

Blocks 5 and 6: Exhibitionary Practice

This practice-based module considers the practical, conceptual, theoretical, and perceptual processes of Fine Art. The module is the culmination of a sequence of practical modules designed to support you through the establishment, development and evaluation of a contemporary art practice, and the production of an individual body of work, as a means to a tacit and articulate understanding of the contemporary subject at an advanced level. The module supports you in the independent development, refinement, and evaluation of a body of experimental work and culminates in the curation of a major professional exhibition.

Teaching is delivered through a combination of one-to-one tutorials, group seminars, lectures, workshops, field-trips, and artists’ talks. We have dedicated studio spaces, and all students have a space in which to work.

You will be introduced to contemporary debates relating to presentation, installation, curatorial and representational issues, and assessed on your independent and creative response to these issues. Assessment tasks include portfolios, a written reflection, presentation, and exhibitions.

You will learn how to develop appropriate research methods in order to inform your creative decisions and written work will develop you as an art-writer, with specific skills that are tailored to your practice. You will build significant professional practice skills throughout the course and exhibit your work to the public three times, both individually and in groups, gaining first-hand professional experience in the art world.

The teaching team is comprised of practicing artists. This ensures that you will learn real-world skills that are in touch with the commercial sector, the latest technologies and current thinking. You will be supported by a highly skilled team of technical demonstrators with access to a range of workshops including metal, wood, plaster, resin, and other processes, as well as CAD facilities, photographic darkrooms, studios and editing suites.

Contact hours
In your first two terms you will normally attend around 4 hours of timetabled taught sessions including lectures, tutorials and workshop and studio sessions each week, and be expected to undertake at least 31 hours of independent study each week. Your third term will be pre-dominantly self-directed (including meetings with your tutor), during which you can expect to undertake 35 hours of independent study each week.

Partnerships and collaborations

DMU enjoys partnerships and collaborations with the city’s creative and cultural centres, including Phoenix Cinema and Art Centre, Curve theatre, Embrace Arts and Leicester Print Workshop. Working with various arts organisations in the East Midlands, the staff will help you to get your work publicised and afford you access to the advice of professionals in the creative industries.