Fine Art and History of Art

An intensive week in Paris, or another art-rich European city, exploring art and architecture at first hand.

Study under the supervision of academic staff, on a topic chosen by you.

You'll have the chance to dive into the Arts and Creative industries by securing a professional or industrial Placement. You’ll bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world experience. You'll get the chance to immerse yourself in the professional world and, more importantly, reflect deeply on your journey.

This module is all about connecting theory with practical professional practices. You'll gain a deep understanding of what it's like to work within a professional framework. This includes tackling key issues related to organising public exhibitions or collaborating with professional artists.

The best part? You have a wide range of options for your Placement, from galleries and theatres to community-based organisations. You can even work alongside seasoned professionals in the arts, such as practising artists or curators.

Welcome to a module that's all about taking your contemporary art practice to the next level. We're here to help you consolidate your intellectual knowledge and practical experience in your chosen field.

Now, it's time to expand and enhance the conceptual strategies you began exploring in Practice 3. The goal is to create a well-rounded body of contemporary artwork that truly reflects your vision. As you progress through this module, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the latest developments in your field and learn essential research methodologies. These skills will empower you to produce artworks that align with your unique interests.

At the end of the module, you'll have the chance to showcase your completed work in a public exhibition. This experience is invaluable and teaches you the art of successful installation. By the time you finish this semester, you'll have a growing sense of your independent art practice and how it fits into the broader critical framework.

This is your second step in our progressive series of professional modules. Here, we bridge the gap between academia and industry in a way that mirrors real-life practices for artists and creative professionals.

This module empowers you to take the reins of your creative journey. You'll choose and participate in projects that align with your unique career aspirations. This module will take your skills to the next level. You'll attend advanced professional workshops designed to equip you with valuable skills for your creative career.

You’ll be encouraged to step into the spotlight with greater independence in your creative projects. It's time to gain a deeper understanding of your own career aspirations and how to turn them into reality.

Discover the wealth of art produced in this period and study the political and social contexts which shaped it.

Explore key aspects of European art in the early modern period, from religion to politics and identity.

This development year will boost your professional profile and confidence. It’s all about hands-on learning, and we're here to help you connect with external organisations through work placements, internships, and industry experiences.

Our goal is to empower you to take charge of your learning journey. You'll identify opportunities that align with your career aspirations, allowing you to place your practice in a professional context. It's all about building your skills and confidence in the real world. So take this opportunity to develop your professional skills.

Study a topic of your choosing that interests you at an advanced level.

Delve into a specialised topic, such as Venetian Renaissance painting or the Art of Death, guided by an expert in the field.

Delve into a specialised topic, such as Gender, Sexuality and the Renaissance Body or Modern British Architecture and Design, guided by an expert in the field.

Research an area of art history that interests you and present it in the form of a long essay or an alternative of your choice, like a video or an exhibition.

In this module, you'll be given the space to explore your own interests and concerns, with the goal of establishing and defining your subject matter or field of inquiry.​

During this module, you'll conduct theoretical and contextual research to better understand how your practice fits into contemporary issues within your field. The research itself can take various forms, tailored to your individual practice. We'll blend traditional academic research methods with hands-on experiments to create independent practical work.

This module is a significant step in your development as an artist. It requires intense creative engagement and reflection, ultimately helping you build a coherent and confident working process.

Importantly, this module forms the conceptual foundation for your degree show work in the next semester. By the end of it, you'll be well-prepared to propose the work you'll develop in Semester 2.

You’ll have hands-on experience, where you'll face the real-world challenges of exhibiting your work to the public. It's the moment to bridge the gap between the ideas you've been cultivating, the form your work takes, and the details of how it all comes together.

Your mission is to create a fully developed body of contemporary art for the public exhibition at the Fine Art Degree Show. Your work will build upon the research and experimentation you delved into during Practice 5: Research and Development. This is your chance to take those ideas to the next level and transform them into compelling and ambitious pieces that meet professional standards.

Whether you've taken Practice 5 or not, this module offers an opportunity to build upon your prior learning and unleash your creative potential. It's the grand stage where your artistic journey reaches a peak, and we're here to support you every step of the way.