University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), BA (Hons), Fine Art

This course provides a broad introduction to the dynamic and exciting area of contemporary fine art practice; the course places an emphasis on an approach to making art which is experimental and innovative; students can choose to specialise or work in a broad-based way; the programme supports practice across a range of media including: painting; sculpture; printmaking; photography; animation; video; sound; performance; drawing; site based projects; illustration; artists books; the course includes: the development of students’ professional skills as an artist, including student placements, an artists’ professional development programme, and student-initiated exhibition projects; application deadline: March 2010.Modules Year 1: Projects are designed to introduce students to research and the range of facilities including inductions into workshops, technical demonstrations and studio practice; students can experiment and do not need to have experience of working in these areas before they join the course; there is an elective option and an introductory course in the history and theory of art; core modules typically include: fine art studio practice 1; visual studies; fine art studio practice 2; optional modules may include: drawing; art in public; photography; video and new media screenings. Year 2: The emphasis is on the development of students’ own practice; they are allocated an individual tutor and work as part of a group for seminar sessions and studio tutorials; students can opt to do a placement or organise an external exhibition; there are a series of lectures from visiting artists; there is an elective option and students can choose from a set of optional modules in the history and theory of art; core modules typically include: fine art image and context; visual culture option; fine art experimental studies; optional modules may include: drawing as research; off-site projects; visiting artists talks image and narrative. Year 3: Students develop their own practice towards the end of year degree exhibition; the studio course is organised through a variety of presentations, tutorials and group crits; work in the studios runs alongside a series of professional practice workshops to prepare for life after graduation; these cover areas such as artists’ residences, how to apply for an exhibition, arts funding and project management; students can take either a taught module or dissertation in the history and theory of art; modules typically include: fine art studies; visual culture module or dissertation; fine art degree exhibition; professional skills for artists.