MASTER S DEGREE IN FINE ART PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION Adopted by the Board of KHiB on 27 October 2011

Transcription

1 MASTER S DEGREE IN FINE ART PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION Adopted by the Board of KHiB on 27 October THE PROFILE AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME The Master s programme in Fine Art is an interdisciplinary programme that prepares students for a career as independent and critical practitioners in different parts of the contemporary art field. The study programme gives the students the artistic, methodological and theoretical qualifications required to work professionally in a complex contemporary art field. Students develop a number of skills, including creative thinking, artistic research, project management and technical knowledge relating to their own artistic practice. In the professional art field, graduates from the master s programme work as artists, teachers, curators and administrators. They can also work as critics or in other roles in the arts sector. Many graduates establish their own artistic practice based on their own workshop or studio, alone or together with other artists. The master s programme is a two-year full-time study programme comprising four semesters. Independent artistic practice has a central place in all semesters. An independent artistic work the master s project is the programme s main component. Each student defines his/her own artistic project, which is developed over two years through individual studies, experimentation, criticism and discussion with lecturers and fellow students. The master s project can be formulated and developed in relation to a specific medium or a combination of media and materials. KHiB has workshops, technical expertise and tutoring competence in digital art, photography, printmaking, installation, ceramics and clay, sound, painting, performance, sculpture, drawing, textiles and video. A master s project can also be based on other criteria, for example linked to site-specific, relational or interdisciplinary approaches. KHiB offers a stimulating and challenging learning environment for motivated students. A key objective of the master s programme is to promote and establish artistic discourse between students, thereby encouraging continuous evaluation of their own and others artistic practice. It is equally important to integrate the master s students into KHiB s artistic research environment, which comprises the academic staff and research fellows Learning outcomes On completion of the Master s Degree in Fine Art, students are expected to be able to: 1

2 demonstrate the artistic knowledge, skills and competence required for contemporary art practice at an international level develop and carry out a large independent art project and exhibit it in a professional context identify and evaluate artistic and ethical challenges, as well as relevant theoretical issues analyse and communicate the intentions, values and meaning underlying their artistic work to an audience with and without artistic competence demonstrate knowledge and independent skills in their artistic research work and use them effectively establish, maintain, administer and present an artistic practice in a professional manner assess their own artistic work and take responsibility for their own academic and professional development negotiate and collaborate efficiently with others in order to initiate artistic projects. 2. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS The Master s Degree programme in Fine Art is based on the Bachelor s Degree in Fine Art or other relevant study programmes corresponding to 180 credits. Applicants will be assessed on the basis of an application that includes a description of their motivation, documentation of relevant artistic work (portfolio) and an interview. 2.1 Requirements for the motivation description The motivation description should be between one to two A4 pages long. It must describe: - why the applicant wishes to be admitted to KHiB s master s programme in Fine Art, and what expectations he/she has of the master s degree programme at KHiB. - how the applicant s artistic work is structured, what methods, media etc. he/she intends to use - the applicant s critical reflections and thoughts on his/her own artistic production so far 2

3 - what artistic themes or issues the applicant wishes to explore in the master s programme - the context within which the applicant sees his/her own artistic practice. 2.2 Portfolio requirements The portfolio should contain documentation of relevant artistic production that shows that the applicant is qualified to carry out an independent master s project Language requirements In order to participate in the programme, the applicant must master a Scandinavian language or English at the start of the study programme. The working languages are Norwegian and English. Tutoring is offered in both languages. 3. CONTENT AND STRUCTURE The two-year master s programme has a scope of 120 credits, which corresponds to 120 ECTS (European Credit Transfer System). The master s programme is a full-time study programme and the nominal length of study is four semesters. The nominal scope of work in one semester is 30 credits. A Master of Arts degree is awarded to students who have completed and passed the study programme. The master s programme forms the basis for applying for admission to the National Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowship Programme and doctoral degree programmes in fine art. Students own practice and individual project work is integrated with and supported through individual tutoring, group tutoring and a contextual programme. Among other things, Art in context ( Kunst i kontekst ) consists of writing courses, theory seminars and seminars on artistic research. Master s students can also participate in courses, projects and other forms of teaching offered in the academy s course calendar. Such elective courses must match the individual student s needs and must be agreed with the student s main tutor. It will normally be best to take part in student exchanges or project periods abroad in the second semester, and such exchanges must be completed by the fourth semester. Exchange periods must be approved in advance by the student s main tutor. 3.1 Tutoring The Department of Fine Art will appoint a main tutor for each student at the start of the master s programme. The main tutor is the student s main academic and institutional contact and is responsible for assessing the student s progress (see 5, Assessment and exams). 3

4 Students are required to have at least four meetings with their main tutor each semester. Some students may wish further tutoring during their work on the master s project. In such case, the student must contact and make arrangements with co-tutors from among the academy s staff. 3.2 Art in context Art in context is the common framework and teaching programme for all the students in the master s programme: Symposium for artistic research The symposium is a monthly forum for artistic research. Academic staff, research fellows, master s students and external guests present and discuss specific artistic research projects and/or general issues relating to artistic knowledge production. The symposium is offered each semester. Lectures and seminar programme The seminar programme focuses on relevant issues in art and culture theory. It includes lectures by the academy s staff and guest lecturers, as well as seminars for follow-up, in-depth study and discussion. Lectures and a seminar programme are offered each semester. Guest lecture programme Second year master s students are responsible for planning and organising the annual guest lecture programme. The student group decides the artistic and theoretical theme for the programme and plans a series of lectures by four to six invited guest lecturers. The guest lecture programme is offered each autumn semester. Writing courses The teaching programme includes a series of short courses and individual tutoring focusing on text production and various textual practices. Tutoring is offered in both academic and creative writing. Preparations for a professional career The teaching programme includes lectures, seminars and workshops that shed light on practical and organisational aspects of a professional career in art. Different practices and artist roles are put into perspective and discussed by a number of practitioners and others from different areas of the contemporary art field. Courses of a preparatory nature are offered throughout the study programme. 4

5 The Art in context programme is planned and presented annually in the academy s course calendar. The content can vary from year to year in order to address topical interests and needs. 3.3 Semester overview and progress SEMESTER 1 New students start their master s programme with an intensive introductory group workshop, followed by a project period in which they test ideas, methods and media for their individual master s projects. Workshop for new students The introductory workshop includes group presentations at which each student is responsible for presenting and explaining his/her work to a fellow student. The students work in small groups, present their work to each other and discuss how they will create presentations for the group as a whole. The workshop can also include specific group assignments that help to integrate the students and create academic fellowship. Project period 1 From September to December, the students work on planning, developing and carrying out a pre-project they will present in connection with the semester assessment. The students submit a written work for assessment that must contain a summary of the first project period and a proposal for a project that will be developed during the spring semester and presented at the first-year group exhibition towards the end of the spring semester. The objective of the project period is to try out ideas, methods, media and materials that will form the basis for further work leading up to the final master s project. Learning outcomes On completion of the first semester, students are expected to be able to cooperate with others on analysing and discussing, critically and effectively, visual (and/or other) information and ideas in a group presentation master and combine methods for exploring and developing their own artistic project apply relevant approaches and methods in their own artistic research communicate and document artistic activity at a high academic level, orally and in writing. SEMESTER 2 In the second semester, the students plan and produce their first-year group exhibition, which will be held at a public gallery. Ideas and concepts from the 5

6 preceding project period are further developed into an independent project to be presented at the Master 1 Exhibition. Project period 2 The students develop and carry out the project described in the written report submitted at the end of the first semester. The project is based on experience and knowledge gained during the introductory project period. It will form the basis for the students exam projects in their second year. The students must submit a text for the semester assessment that documents and summarises the second project period and includes critical reflection on their own work during their first year of study. The text must also contain a detailed proposal for a concluding master s project, which the students will carry out in the third and fourth semester. First year seminar At this group seminar, each student presents his/her master s project and the status of his/her work so far. The presentation must contain documentation, contextual references and critical reflection on the project. Exhibition The Master 1 Exhibition is a group exhibition at which each student presents the project he/she developed in semester 2. The students have full responsibility for planning and staging the exhibition. Study trip The master s programme study trip is a group trip featuring visits to museums, art exhibitions and meetings with artists, curators and other practitioners in the arts field. The programme and destination vary from year to year. The study trip is optional and open to all master s students. Learning outcomes On completion of the second semester, students are expected to be able to plan, carry out and present a self-initiated artistic research project plan and carry out a group exhibition in collaboration with others critically assess their own and others artistic production. SEMESTER 3 The second year of study focuses on the student s work of realising his/her exam project, with a final project period that extends over the third and fourth semesters. The final project period During the final project period, the student plans, develops and carries out a large 6

7 independent project that will be presented at the Degree Exhibition for the master s programme and assessed as an exam. The exam project builds on the projects that the students have developed during their first year of study, while the level of ambition is raised to realising a contemporary art project of international standard. While working on their artistic projects, student must also work on their exam texts. This text must include a critical reflection on the exam project, contextual references, a summary of the student s own studies as a whole, and an expanded artist statement that will form the basis for further development after completion of the master s programme. Second year seminar For the second year seminar, students prepare a presentation of a topic they have selected themselves. The topic must be relevant to the student s master s project as a whole and it must demonstrate the student s ability to explore a topic, organise, process and combine source material, as well as commenting on and communicating his/her own observations, reflections and conclusions. Learning outcomes On completion of the third semester, students are expected to be able to show initiative and take personal responsibility for working independently, making decisions and efficiently managing their own time assess and present their own practice in relation to a wider context of contemporary and/or historical art practices explore and analyse an artistic theme and present the result, orally and in writing. SEMESTER 4 In the final semester, students complete their artistic exam projects and finish their accompanying exam texts. MA Degree Exhibition The students play an active part in planning, producing and designing the MA Degree Exhibition, which is held at a professional gallery. The preparations for the Degree Exhibition include producing an exhibition catalogue and planning a professional, open seminar in connection with the exhibition. Learning outcomes The learning outcomes for the exam semester are the same as the overall learning outcomes for the master s programme (see 1.1). 7

8 4. ASSESSMENT AND EXAMS Towards the end of semesters 1 to 3, the students will be assessed on the basis of the learning outcomes defined for each semester and the pertaining assessment criteria. The main tutor and another member of the academic staff appointed by the Dean/ master s coordinator will carry out the assessment, which consists of a conversation based on the student s semester report and an oral description of his/her own learning and work effort. The semester assessment concludes with the student being given structured feedback on his/her own work and progress. The grades pass and fail are used in connection with semester assessments. A student who is awarded a pass grade has achieved the learning outcomes for the semester in question and has therefore also achieved the learning goals as his/her actual learning outcome. Passing the semester assessment is a precondition for further studies in the master s programme and is worth 30 credits. The assessment criteria and specific information about the basis for the assessment are set out in the document Assessment and exams in KHiB s Master s programme in Fine Art, which is available on the academy s website. 4.1 Exam The master s programme concludes with an exam in the fourth semester. In connection with the exam, students are assessed on the basis of the learning outcomes defined for each semester and the pertaining assessment criteria. The exam assessment is carried out by a commission comprising two external examiners and the student s main tutor. The exam consists of a conversation that includes a presentation and a critical assessment of the master s project and exam text. The grades pass and fail are used in connection with the exam. A student who is awarded a pass grade has achieved the learning outcomes for the study programme and has therefore also achieved the learning goals as his/her actual learning outcomes. The assessment criteria and specific information about the assessment basis set out in the document Assessment and exams in KHiB s Master s Programme in Fine Art, which is available on the academy s website. 5. EVALUATION OF THE STUDY PROGRAMME The academy s Quality Enhancement Programme includes an overall evaluation of the study programmes in a five-year cycle. In addition, students and staff participate in regular evaluations of the courses and teaching programmes offered. Regular and systematic feedback of this kind is crucial to KHiB s work on developing the quality of education and the learning environment. 8