MA Art & Material Histories

MA Art & Material Histories at City & Guilds of London Art School has a distinctive focus on the links between art and its material, critical and historical contexts, and focuses on students’ own research questions related to Art and its materials.

Delivered through a blended learning approach, the course is mainly taught online with several face-to-face periods at the Art School’s facilities in central London. Students engage with learning through live online group seminars and tutorials, with regular opportunities for online discussion and feedback, as well as several face-to-face meet ups throughout the programme.

With a focus on critical thinking around the “material turn” and how the material and “immaterial” world of objects, things, and the stuff they are made from, can relate to philosophical, theoretical, technological, social and political contexts, students examine key ideas and themes through case studies of objects, artworks and museum collections.

Students’ own research is the core element of the course, exploring art history’s intimate relationship with tools, materials and processes. As well as textual sources and case studies, research may also be supported by practical hands-on enquiry. Students are encouraged to use the course as a basis to question accepted notions and processes, evolving working strategies, including primary research such as testing material properties; interviewing artists and craft specialists; curating displays of work; and directly analysing material artefacts alongside other research.

The course culminates in the presentation of research, perhaps in the form of a curated exhibition, symposia, publication, short documentary or podcast, in the Art School MA Show.

We offer a limited number of grants for international students in recognition of talent and excellence. Students can apply with a portfolio of their research or work, CV and a statement about why they want to study on the course. For further details contact admin [​at​] cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk.

Course length and mode of study
The course is delivered through blended learning:  live online and in-person in central London, full time or part time.

Students engage in live, online group seminars, tutorials and symposia. The in-person periods of study at the Art School comprise 1 week at the start of the course, one week in the spring and a further three-week period leading up to the final exhibition, during which students will take part in a series of hands-on workshops, material enquiry, and site visits to a selection of London’s significant galleries and museums.

One year full time: September 2022–September 2023
Two years part time: September 2022–June 2023 (year one) and September 2023–September 2024 (year two)

Open days: The next online open day is Friday May 27, 10am BST, with further dates in June. Book your place.

Applications and dates: We review applications until the course is full. Find further details.