Contemporary Art Practice - Moving Image, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture

You are able to specialise in 4 pathways: Moving Image, Photography, Printmaking and Sculpture.

Year 1

You will develop fundamental core skills and knowledge of Contemporary Art Practice through studio projects, lectures, seminars and specific subject related technical workshops in drawing, printmaking, moving image, sculpture, photography and contextual and critical studies.

Year 2

You will extend your core skills in Contemporary Art Practice through emerging thematics and technically driven projects that enable you to develop your own personal interests and narratives. You will have the opportunity to participate in international and national study trips to broaden your contextual knowledge and increase your professional awareness within the field.

Year 3

Year 3 consolidate your skills acquisition and extends your personal direction and knowledge through self-directed study and development of professional skills in relation to external contexts. You will undertake a Professional Skills module focussing on external facing perceptions and the role of audience in the digestion of contemporary fine art.

Year 4

You will make an informed decision as to the nature of your supported independent Honours project, which will be reflected in your final award title. This year is about engaging in supported independent study that combines technical, visual, conceptual and contextual practice to produce a professional body of work for public consumption through exhibition and a written thesis.

Learning Methods

You will work in a spacious studio environment as well as dedicated workshop facilities for Printmaking, Sculpture, Photography, Moving Image; and advanced digital production in two and three dimensions.

The course’s teaching and learning focuses on the development of skills across five key areas: technical, conceptual, contextual, personal and professional.

You will learn though optional industry-linked projects, European exchanges, study trips, placements and live competitions, which are all an integral part of the course. Group activities are plentiful and manifest through exhibitions, publications and public art activities, developing your professional and practical experiences. There are also socially engaged learning through subject specialist external projects with partners in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire and beyond.

Activity Summary

Year 4

• Lectures - 40 (average) students per group, 4 hours per term
• Seminars -8 students per group, 4 hours per term
• Tutorial - 1 student per group,4 hours per term
• Project Supervision - 40 (average) students per group
• Demonstration -15 students per group, 4hours per term
• Practical class or workshop - 40 (average) students per group,6 hours per term
• Supervised time in studio / workshop - 40 (average) students per group,58 hours per term
• Independent Study - 40 (average) students per group,370 hours per term
• External Visits - Variable numbers from stage 4 cohort, one week study visit to Orkney or Shetland, Helmsdale or international (all trips optional) in term two, one week in duration

How long is a BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice - Moving Image, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture course?

The duration of a Contemporary Art degree is 4 years. This includes lectures, seminars, independent study and other activities.

Independent Study

Throughout the course particular emphasis is placed on your development of independent learning through self-directed fine art project/s. In Year 4 you are required to study independently with the emphasis of supported study through tutorials, seminars, crits and exhibitions.

Staff Delivering on This Course

There is a combination of academic and technical staff teaching on this course, all staff having specific expertise in one of the named routes and are active researchers or practicing artists within the subject.

Expert practitioners in the industry contribute to course as Professional Associates, the ‘Life After Art School’ lecture programme and through the Guest@Grays programme, which invites national and international artists and designers to speak about their work and aspects of essential professional skills acquisition.

There is also input from Graduate in Resident artists, PhD and master's students.

Assessment

Typically students are assessed eachyear:

Year 1

• 1written assignment, including essays
• 2 portfolios
• 3 group critiques

Year 2

• 2 written assignments, including essays
• 2 portfolios
• 3group critiques

Year 3

• 2written assignments, including essays
• 2portfolios
• 2 project outputs
• 3group critiques

Year 4

• 1dissertation
• 1portfolio
• 3group critiques

Feedback

We aim to provide you with feedback within 20 working days of hand-in for all written exams, coursework and practical exams.

Placements

In year 3, term2, you will have the opportunity to undertake up to 4 weeks work experience within one or more placement experiences. This will enable you to gain first-hand experience and a real insight into professional practice. We have longstanding agreements with a range of organisations both in the city of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and beyond including Peacock Visual Arts, Scottish Sculpture Workshop, The Carbrach Heritage Trust and GHAT (Grampian Hospital Arts Trust). There is also opportunities for you to apply for open call placements in preparation for Year 4. Each placement is financially supported and the Student Placement and Support Manager will support you in finding placements.

Study Abroad

In Year 3, Term2, there is the optional opportunity to undertake a period of international study exchange with partner universities/colleges across Europe, Canada and the US.

Job Prospects

The course will provide you with a wide range of transferable and professional skills ensuring you will be equipped for a diverse range of careers within the creative and cultural industries and society as a whole.

Is Contemporary Art Practice a good career choice?

PreviousBA Contemporary Art Practicegraduates of Robert Gordon University have gone on to pursue the following careers:

• Freelance Artist
• Community Arts
• Educational Art Assistant
• Graduate in Residence

You may develop your individual creative practice through exhibitions, residencies, public art projects and many other forms of arts-related activity. Options include independent production, publishing, advertising, curatorial and archival work, gallerists, video & TV, arts administration, teaching and community arts.

There is also the option of extending your academic experience through postgraduate study at Gray’s School of Art or other postgraduate institutions.