Master of Fine Art.
The two-year MFA at the University of Ulster seeks to attract outstanding and highly motivated applicants. The MFA is based in the centre of Belfast and has a long established and proven track record of providing a rigorous studio-based programme with access to the expertise of a core staff of nationally and internationally recognised visiting artists. A diversity of teaching inputs by staff and visiting artists reflects the range of approaches employed and their application in the studio context.
We recognise contemporary Fine Art Practice as being open and pluralistic and encourages dialogue between diverse disciplines. A multi-disciplinary/ inter-media approach enables students to work in a flexible manner that offers the maximum opportunity for individual practice. Students are asked to engage with systems of enquiry that embrace traditional exhibition formats and explore more innovative models of distribution and dissemination. Critical discourse on practice with an emphasis on analysis and self-reflection contribute to an understanding of contemporary art located within a larger cultural, social and political context.
The MFA embraces committed, sustainable professional practice. The 2010 Turner Prize was won by MFA graduate Susan Phillipsz (1994). Other nominated graduates include Phil Collins, Cathy Wilkes and Christine Borland. Graduates of the MFA have been substantially represented over the years in other high profile events and prizes, including the Venice Biennale, Becks Futures and the Glenn Dimplex award (IMMA, Dublin). Two graduates have been awarded the highly competitive Paul Hamlyn Award. Film production, gallery management and curation are allied areas where graduates have also been internationally successful.
The teaching team comprises Artists; Alistair Wilson (Reader in Fine Art), Course Director, Willie Doherty, Professor of Video Art and Mary McIntyre (Reader in Fine Art Photography).
Course Director: Alistair Wilson
Duration: two years
E-mail: [email protected]
Student Website: www.mfabelfast.com
MFA Art in Public.
The MFA Art in Public was established in 2007 in recognition of emerging fundamental challenges and changes to models of art practice that seek to engage wider art and non-art public dimensions. Based in Belfast it recognises the importance of location in art in terms of its public territory—its cultural, social, economic, historical, political or psychological situatedness. Belfast is a vibrant city in a significant period of social and cultural transition where engaged art practices have been developed in various contexts and situations for many years.
The programme situates itself and generates opportunities amongst a matrix of local and international networks including activist and artist-run initiatives, NGO’s and social, political and cultural institutions. Within its teaching remit the course actively attends and contributes to external events, talks and discussions and has been invited to take part in projects such as: re;public (TBG, Dublin), FIX Live Art Biennials (Catalyst Arts, Belfast), Radius of Art (Heinrich Boell Foundation, Berlin) and Policing Dialogues (LAB, Dublin).
With this network and backdrop, the students work on and off campus with formal or informal partners to develop group and self initiated practice-based approaches and modes of working that are dialogic, participatory, interventionist or collaborative in intention and structure. Past guests include: Walid Raad, Alfredo Jaar, Finger, Monica Nunez, Guerilla Girls, Locus+, Sean Miller / JEMA, Anne Douglas, Doina Petrescu, Anthony Haughey, Wendy Ewald, Faisal Abdu’Allah, Daniel Jewesbury, Sharon Lifschitz, Carmen Mörsch, Sarah Pierce, Bbeyond and Cathal McLaughlin.
Course co-directors & contact: Susanne Bosch ([email protected]) and Dan Shipsides ([email protected])
External examiner is Claire Doherty (Situations, UK).
Duration: Full time 2 years. Part-time 3 years.
Application deadline 1st May 2012
MFA Art in Public: masterartinpublic.wordpress.com
The fees for these University of Ulster 240 credit MFA programmes are not significantly increasing—making it nationally and internationally comparatively affordable. Fees: Approx 20 EUR (Local / EU) and 50 EUR (Non-EU) per credit (tbc).
School of Art, Design
University of Ulster
Yorkstreet
Belfast BT15 1ED
Northern Ireland
www.ulster.ac.uk
