School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies. Postgraduate study

Transcription

1 School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies Postgraduate study

2 Contents 3 Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at Leeds 5 Master of Fine Art 6 MA Fine Art 7 MA History of Art 8 MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies 9 MA Cultural Studies 10 Postgraduate Research Degrees 10 How to apply 11 The University and the city The faculty's areas of research were so fascinating, and I really felt the benefit of their expertise, passion and risk-taking as a student. The attitude towards scholarship was incredibly inspiring...leeds showed me I could love studying, that I could be focussed, highly motivated and achieve surprising goals. I guess it opened up a world to me that I wanted to be in and gave me the confidence that I belonged there. The fact that I studied at Leeds was noted with particular approval at every interview I've given. Anna Conlon, MA History of Art, 2002 Exhibitions Assistant, The Royal Academy, now studying at Columbia University, New York

3 Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies at Leeds The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies is one of the largest and most exciting centres in the UK for studying fine art, culture and the histories/theories of art. The School has an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching and it operates at the interface between history, theory and fine art practice. The School currently has four undergraduate programmes and five taught masters programmes. There are also over fifty PhD students researching a wide range of topics. Staff are encouraged to teach across degree programmes and all teaching is research-led within the interdisciplinary work of the School. The School has over thirty members of staff comprising artists, historians and theorists; many are internationally renowned in their specialist fields, including a number of fine artists whose work is shown at venues across the world. We have a vibrant research culture, housing the AHRC Centre for Cultural Analysis, Theory and History (CentreCATH) ( and the largest graduate school in art and art theory outside London. We have long established associations and research relationships with museums, galleries and organisations including the Henry Moore Institute, National Media Museum, Yorkshire Sculpture Park, Harewood House, Leeds Art Gallery, Leeds International Film Festival, East Street Arts and numerous artist-led spaces. The University s libraries and British Library at nearby Boston Spa provide, on a national scale, comprehensive reference, lending, bibliographic, patent and other services based on its vast collection of books and other materials sees the opening of the new Leeds Museum and we are working closely with Leeds Museums and Galleries to develop exciting new research and teaching opportunities. 3

4 Cultural Life The city offers its students a wide array of cultural facilities. Leeds Art Gallery is recognised as one of the top venues in the UK to see British art, the collections having received designated government status in 1997, indicating their national importance. British sculpture is a particular strength of the collection reflecting the close association of the Gallery with the Henry Moore Foundation, which also funds the internationally renowned Henry Moore Institute. The Institute coordinates a programme examining the meaning of sculpture in different material and cultural circumstances by means of exhibitions, projects, events, fellowships, publications and collections. The Institute houses both an extensive library and a constantly expanding archive ( Research in sculpture is also aided by the recent decision of the Arts Council to locate its sculpture archive and collection at the Longside Gallery next to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. The Stanley and Audrey Burton Art Gallery - University of Leeds offers a varied programme of temporary exhibitions by national and international artists and a permanent collection room displaying selected items from the 17th century up to the present day. Outstanding collections of early 20th century British art include drawings and paintings by artists of the Camden Town and Bloomsbury groups and the School s Gregory Fellows. The Leeds International Concert Season is one the largest music repertoires in the country. In addition to a flagship orchestral series, the season includes a wide-ranging programme of jazz, brass, organ recitals and chamber music. The Leeds International Piano Competition remains one of the world s most important competitions and is hosted by the University and Leeds Town Hall. Leeds also has a number of venues for pop, rock and alternative music. The oldest Caribbean carnival in Britain is an annual summer event. Leeds has two nationally recognised theatres. The Grand Theatre plays host to many touring companies including the Northern Ballet Theatre and the English National Ballet, and is the home of Opera North. The West Yorkshire Playhouse promotes artistic excellence of international standing, from the classic repertory to contemporary productions by emerging writers. The National Media Museum is based nearby in Bradford. Its renowned collection features three million photographic items of historical, social and cultural value. These include the world's first photographic negative, the earliest television footage and the world's first example of moving pictures Louis Le Prince's 1888 film of Leeds Bridge. The Royal Photographic Society collection has been recently re-housed in the Museum, making it the world s leading centre for research on European photography. The museum has a rolling programme of contemporary exhibitions and is host to the Bite the Mango world cinema festival. 4

5 Postgraduate taught programmes Master of Fine Art The Master of Fine Art (MFA) provides an intensive programme of full-time, research-oriented study over two academic years. The course is studio-led and provides the necessary resources and learning contexts for small cohorts of students to evaluate and contribute to key discourses in contemporary art. The programme is designed to equip students with the advanced skills and understanding needed to develop a critically informed, fine art practice. It offers an extended period of full-time study to enable an opportunity for substantial development of a student s practice and critical understanding. The core teaching team encourages and facilitates the development of students potential as artists by offering expert individual guidance on the research, production, studio analysis and public presentation of students work. MFA candidates critical and technical skills and methodologies are continuously developed and challenged in order that they can acquire an advanced understanding of how to develop and articulate ideas as artists, and how to communicate key objectives and achievements, both orally and in writing. Course content is tailored precisely to individual student s aims and objectives. It aims to help students identify and negotiate personal and shared positions within a broad arena of contemporary practice, criticism and theory. Teaching methods include individual tutorials, group critiques and staff- and student-led seminars, augmented by lectures and individual tutorials with visiting artists, curators and theorists. Inductions are provided in a range of technical areas as and when appropriate. Visits to regional, national and international galleries, artists studios and special events introduce students to the curatorial and technical aspects of different forms of art practice and presentation. The MFA runs concurrently with the one-year MA in Fine Art programme; it is supported by an array of MA theory options, as well as the excellent and broad-ranging research cultures of the School of Fine Art, History of Art & Cultural Studies, the Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts & Communications and the University. The programme also enjoys close liaisons with Leeds Art Gallery, The Henry Moore Institute, Project Space Leeds, East Street Arts, Leeds Met Gallery, Gallery 42, and many other contemporary art venues and events in and around the vibrant city cultural of Leeds. Modules Year 1 MFA Studio 1 MFA Studio 2 Year 2 MFA Studio 3 Optional Module (see sample list on page 9) MFA Exhibition Entry Requirements Applications are welcomed from current BA Honours students who wish to pursue the subject in greater depth or from artists/graduates who wish to refocus their ideas after a period of absence from education. Enquiries are invited from students who already hold an upper second or first class degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant subject area. A portfolio of recent work and a summary of personal practice interests (1000 words max) must be submitted with your application form. 5

6 MA in Fine Art The MA in Fine Art runs concurrently with the School s three other MA programmes in Art History, Cultural Studies and Art Gallery & Museum Studies. The programme is run over an intensive 12-month period (21 months part-time) and aimed at those who have already achieved high production values in their studio work yet wish to contextualise their research in relation to contemporary critical theories. As well as studio work and studies in contemporary art, theory and criticism, students undertake an additional option from the School s broad array of MA modules thus complementing and underpinning their practice through rigorous discourse. The programme provides the resources and learning context necessary to assess and critically evaluate theories of visual representations, an integral part of the production of practical work in fine art. It aims to provide the basis for future professional art practice, curatorial engagement or academic research at a higher level. Programme content is tailored precisely to its objectives, the central concerns relating to professional accomplishments in the making of art in contextual, critical and theoretical understanding and students are helped to identify and negotiate personal and shared positions within current practice/theory. Appropriate critical and technical skills and methodologies are developed continuously throughout the programme and students develop their abilities to communicate concerns, and define objectives and achievements relative to professional art practice. Students take full responsibility for their own programme of work, routinely engaging with critically informed contemporary issues in art. This includes the production of work in the studio and workshop environment and a programme of research and study. Reading lists are provided and updated to suit the individual and their particular line of research and development through tutorial guidance. The programme is also supported by the region s resources which include many internationally recognised institutions, collections and archives close at hand such as Baltic, Cornerhouse, Dean Clough, Henry Moore Institute, Leeds Art Gallery, Lumen, National Media Museum, Tate Liverpool and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Modules Semester 1 Contemporary Art, Theory and Criticism Studio Practice I Semester 2 Studio Practice Exhibition Optional Module (see sample list on page 9) Fine Art Dissertation Entry Requirements You will apply either during or after leaving an undergraduate programme with an upper second or first class degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant subject area. The programme is particularly suitable to those whose work has already attained high levels of production, yet require a supportive arena of critical and theoretical discourse in which to contextualise a practice that may be leading to further research at PhD level. Applicants will be required to submit a Research Study Proposal (1000 words max.) and a portfolio of recent work. 6

7 MA History of Art Building on its internationally recognised work in reclaiming and re-elaborating the social history of art and establishing feminist studies in the visual arts, Leeds continues to lead the development of theories and methods of art historical study. Scholars can explore the changing roles of emancipatory projects and criticallyreflexive approaches to historiography, conduct pioneering research on issues of cultural and sexual difference in the visual arts, consider the critical parameters of pre- and postcolonial studies in African and Asian art, and develop innovative studies in Jewish art and culture. The close relations between History of Art, Cultural Studies, Fine Art, and Museum Studies in the School - a profile that is specific to Leeds - provide a vibrant intellectual environment for considering the interactions between theory and practice and the often-ignored limits of institutionalised discourses. This original profile continues to make Leeds critically expansive in its conception of art and the ways that the object of study can be constituted. Unique to Leeds are the close links between the School and a number of internationally important research institutions. Long-standing collaborative work with the Henry Moore Institute has fostered a strong academic grouping for the study of sculpture, providing students access to unparalleled resources for research and intellectual exchange. These add to the richness of local institutions like Harewood House, Burton Constable Hall, Temple Newsam House, Leeds Art Gallery, the Arts Council Longside Gallery, and the National Media Museum. As competing models for the study of art history proliferate, the MA programme pursues interrogations into the formation of art history as an academic discipline. We ensure that students encounter first-hand the texts and debates that reveal art history s complex legacies, that they understand how art history has found itself increasingly figured within a wider field of competing claims and knowledge formations, and that they are able to trace how contemporary problems (intellectual, political and institutional) bear on the ways art history is currently practised. The MA programme enables students to understand how issues of practice, subjectivity, history, global politics, and memory have developed, and provides opportunities for research into areas of special interest. Students are encouraged to devise particular understanding through a variety of modules available in both semesters. Students can use options to pursue routes according to their own areas of special interest. Modules Semester 1 History of Art Core Course Optional Module (see sample list on page 9) Semester 2 2 x Optional modules (see sample list on page 9) Dissertation The dissertation, supported by formal research training, enables students to devise, research and write on a subject developed during the course of their study. The programme prepares students to undertake innovative, self directed research at both taught graduate and doctoral level. Leeds is well suited to those who are arriving at a more complex understanding of art and its histories, and who are seeking to develop their critical abilities within the stimulating context of a large community of active researchers and an exciting and challenging research culture. Entry Requirements Enquiries are invited from students who already hold an upper second or first class degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant subject area. 7

8 MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies The MA in Art Gallery and Museum Studies aims to provide students with a critical understanding of the issues surrounding curatorship, museology, and museum management. Modules consider the ways in which material culture has been represented and interpreted by historians and cultural theorists, the methodologies behind museum practice, the formation of country house collections, and methods of display and interpretation. There is also the opportunity to choose an option from the extensive array of modules offered by all of the MA programmes in the School. This allows students to specialise in their own areas of interest and do further work on many periods and themes in art history and cultural theory. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, 'hands-on' experience of specific collections, and a supervised, negotiated work placement. As a part of the degree students are encouraged to build a portfolio of project work to support future job applications. The programme has close links with a number of important institutions both in the city and the region. Course tutors include professional curators and educationalists. Previous students have completed placements at a wide variety of museums, art galleries and heritage organisations including Leeds Art Gallery, Harewood House, the Henry Moore Institute, the National Media Musem, the National Railway Museum, York City Art Gallery, Impressions Gallery, Fairfax House, Lotherton Hall, Abbey House Museum and the Royal Armouries. This degree is offered on a full time or part-time basis. Full time study takes place over one calendar year. Course modules are taken on two days per week during the first two semesters. The third semester is devoted to work on the MA dissertation. Part-time study takes place over two calendar years, with students attending on one day per week each year. Research on the dissertation is spread over the two summer semesters. The part-time MA may be of special interest to those who are working in related fields as part of their career development. Previous graduates have gone onto jobs in both the public and private sectors, as curators and education staff in local authority museums, for national heritage organisations and in arts marketing and public relations. For example, graduates now work at Harewood House, Leeds, at the Discovery Museum, Newcastle, for the Arts Council England, for the National Trust and for the New Orleans Museum of Art. A number have also returned as research students. Modules Semester 1 Object, Building, Text Interpreting Cultures Semester 2 Museum, Object, Practice (placement module) Optional module (see sample list on page 9) Dissertation Entry Requirements Enquiries are invited from students who already hold an upper second or first class degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant subject area. 8

9 MA in Cultural Studies This programme takes a philosophical and theoretical approach to cultural studies, offering an in depth study of major paradigms of cultural analysis, including critical theory, deconstruction, and psychoanalysis. The programme also provides an analysis of the historical formations of contemporary cultural structures and of cultural studies itself as a reflexive critical response to modernity in its long history. Key issues covered include modernity and postmodernity, the postcolonial, subjectivity and sexuality, visual and acoustical culture. Students take two core modules, Cultural Theory and Cultural History, and two modules chosen from the extensive array of optional modules offered by all of the MA programmes in the School. Previous options have included: The Voice in Cultural Theory; Deconstruction Reading Politics, Trauma, Cultural Memory and the Holocaust, Reading Sexual Difference, Postmodern Theory, The Architecture of Philosophy The programme of study culminates in a 12,000-15,000 word long dissertation. This degree is offered on a full time or part-time basis. Full time study takes place over one calendar year: course modules are taken on two days per week during the first two semesters. The third semester is devoted to work on the MA dissertation. Part-time study takes place over two calendar years, with students attending on one day per week each year. Research on the dissertation is spread over the two summer semesters. Entry Requirements Applications are invited from students who already hold a first or upper second degree or equivalent professional experience in a relevant subject area. Optional Modules In line with the School s commitment to interdisciplinary studies and in order to allow students to customise their Masters experience to suit their own research interests, all of our programmes allow students to select an optional module/modules from a wide array. Below is a sample list of the modules that we offer each year. These are subject to change as our staff are encouraged to develop modules in line with their own research activities. Sample List of Optional Modules (Subject to availability) Feminist Cultural Theory Losing Perspective: Reflections on non-western arts The Object in Question Derrida and Deconstruction The Margins of Medieval Art Body Object Space (in conjunction with Henry Moore Institute) Assessing the French Revolution The Body and its Work in Anglo-Saxon Art Individual Directed Study Country House Collections The Voice in Cultural Theory The Esoteric Tradition in Western Art Unfinished Business: Trauma, Cultural Memory and the Holocaust Feminist Criticism & Practice in the Contemporary Visual Arts Capitalism, Criticism and Contemporary Art Images and Iconography Essential Research Skills All of our masters students have to take this core module. Its aim is to introduce students to the essential skills required to undertake and manage a post-graduate research project (e.g. a dissertation) successfully. It will cover basic skills such as locating sources and resources, note-taking and referencing, effective time management, trouble-shooting, the construction of research strategies, and the public presentation of research. The course has taken me beyond my initial interest in art galleries and museums to another level of critical understanding of their function and purpose in society. As I prepare to start my career, the knowledge, confidence and experience I have gained has been invaluable. Anna Wiebe, MA Art Gallery and Museum Studies 2008 Anna has recently been appointed Associate Art Educator of Adult Programs at the Winnipeg Art Gallery, Canada 9

10 Postgraduate Research degrees How to apply Enquiries are invited from students who already hold a masters degree in a relevant subject area who wish to pursue a supervised programme of independent research. Applicants will be required to submit an outline of their proposed area of study with a provisional bibliography (a portfolio of work will be required if for a practice based degree), together with a substantial example of academic writing, as well as two completed references. It should also be ensured that all relevant information, such as transcripts and English Language Certificates, are also included with the application form. The School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies already undertakes a wide range of research, generally defined as social or critical histories of art with additional attention to cultural studies, feminist analyses museum studies and sculpture studies. Areas of research and teaching include British, Russian, French, European, non-western and American studies ranging from classical Greece to the Middle Ages, to the 18th, 19th, 20th centuries and contemporary art, theory and culture. As the school continues to expand there will be further areas of research supervision available. For upto-date information please refer to the list of academic staff at Practice-based research degrees (PhD/M.Phil.) Enquiries are invited from students who already hold a Masters Degree in Fine Art (or an equivalent qualification or level of experience) who wish to pursue a supervised programme of independent research in which theoretical and historical enquiry underpins practice-based research. For practice-based research degrees the final submission can take the form of an exhibition that is appropriate to the candidate s research. Accompanying text of up to 20,000 words, which represents the theoretical component of the PhD, should provide both the historical context and a critical commentary. A permanent record of the exhibition and the preceding works and theoretical reflections must be prepared in a manner that meets the University s library and archiving requirements. All postgraduate applicants need to fill out an application form. Taught postgraduate and research application forms are available from the Postgraduate Secretary (see back cover for details) or online at or Applicants will be required to submit an example of academic writing as well as two completed references. Please take careful note of the University application guidelines. Application deadlines For all taught postgraduate and research applications: 1st March Candidates wishing to apply outside this date should contact the Postgraduate Secretary. Scholarships Information on scholarships can be found on or you can request a scholarships booklet from the School or directly from the scholarships office. Tel: / scholarships@leeds.ac.uk Fees Please see Fees are subject to annual review and will be confirmed with offer letters. Language requirements Prospective students whose first language is not English need to ensure that their linguistic proficiency is adequate. Such students are required to obtain proof of proficiency in the English language; you will need to gain a TOEFL score (paper based test) of at least 600 (including a score of at least 4.0 in the Test of Written English (TWE)) or 250 (computer based test) with 5 in essay writing or an IELTS score of 6.5 (with not less than 7.0 in writing and not less than 6.0 in any other components) or a TOEFL Internet Based Test score of at least 94 (including a score of at least 20 in listening, 23 in reading and speaking and 24 in writing). It should be ensured that all relevant information, such as transcripts and English Language Certificates is included with the application form. 10

11 The University and the city University life Established in 1904, the university is one of the largest and most successful universities in the UK with an international reputation for the high standard of its teaching and research. It is a member of the Russell Group, which is formed by 20 of the country s most prestigious universities. With over 1,100 research active staff, Leeds is now among the top ten universities for research in the UK and is internationally acknowledged as a centre of excellence in a wide range of academic and professional disciplines. Situated in one of the North of England s most prosperous cities, the University has over 32,000 students from over 100 different countries. In order to facilitate high-quality learning, teaching and research, our students have access to outstanding resources including modern well-equipped lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and computer clusters. The library is one of the largest university libraries in the UK, with a stock of over 2.8 million items, a wide range of databases, electronic journals and full-text electronic resources that are available campus-wide and many are accessible remotely by members of the University. The University also provides first class leisure facilities. Extensive sports amenities offer sporting activities at all levels, from recreational fun to support for top athletes. The Student s Union is one of the largest and most active in the country, with a shopping mall, bars, games complex, concert venue and award winning nightclub. Accommodation UK or EU postgraduate students: there are usually a number of vacancies in University accommodation each year. Accommodation is easily available in the private sector. Help in locating this can be found at New international postgraduates paying fees at the full international rate have a guaranteed place in University accommodation during their first year at Leeds subject to certain conditions. See The city of Leeds As a postgraduate student at the University of Leeds you will be part of a vibrant student community situated in the heart of a cosmopolitan and student-friendly city located in the centre of the UK, which offers a diversity to suit all budgets. Leeds, home to 700,000 people, is the capital of the Yorkshire and Humber region, and the social and cultural hub of the North. The city s roots lie firmly in the textile industry but more recently it has become a centre for trade and commerce, and one of Britain s most important financial, banking and legal centres outside of London. Leeds has all you can expect from a major city yet is surrounded by the beautiful and accessible Yorkshire Dales. The city centre is a mere 10-minute walk from the campus with fast and frequent transport links to all other major UK cities. Leeds is unrivalled in the north of England as a major shopping destination and centre for entertainment, nightlife, the arts and leisure. The city boasts stunning Victorian and Edwardian arcades and more than a thousand commercial outlets. People from around the region regularly visit Leeds to shop in a centre, which includes everything from designer boutiques to the historic Kirkgate market for local produce. The city offers an extensive choice of places to eat and drink no matter what your taste or budget. Nightlife in and around the city is well known for its diversity and popularity. The clubs in Leeds offer a sophisticated and relaxed experience with a variety of music to suit all tastes. Leeds also offers a unique selection of commercial and independent cinemas, hosting the annual Leeds International Film Festival. The city has a proud sporting tradition and is home to famous teams such as Leeds United FC and the Yorkshire Cricket Club. Located throughout the city are numerous gyms and health clubs offering the opportunity to keep fit or unwind, and to participate in sport at all levels, as well as at the University s own extensive sports facilities. 11

12 Whilst the University endeavours to ensure that the information contained in this brochure is accurate at the date of publication it does not accept liability for any inaccuracies. The University reserves the right to change or cancel its courses or services at any time without liability even after students have registered at the University. The University s contract with its students does not confer third party benefits for the purpose of Contracts (Right of Third Parties) Act School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies University of Leeds Leeds, LS2 9JT t +44 (0) f +44 (0) e finpg@leeds.ac.uk w