Contemporary Art Practice (MA (eca))

at University of Edinburgh

You will study key debates and issues central to the development of contemporary art. For example, the course Studio will encourage you to critically evaluate the changing ways artists produce work now, while Sites will explore the possibilities of exhibiting work beyond the gallery.

The work you produce for these courses will be discussed and reflected on in tutorials, group critiques and workshops.

These practice orientated courses are supported by a seminar-based courses such as Methods and the Future Business of Art, where you will work collaboratively to examine key texts on core contemporary art issues and produce short presentations to stimulate discussion.

Assessment is essay-based but we support creative approaches that use catalogue, artist book and online digital platform media.

These entry requirements are for the 2022/23 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2023/24 academic year will be published on 3 October 2022.

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree or its international equivalent.

You must submit a portfolio as part of your application. Your portfolio should be formatted as an A4-sized PDF document of no more than 10 pages and contain:

• images of your work (the number is up to you, but we would advise that you do not put more than four images on an individual page)
• accompanied image text detailing title, medium, date and where appropriate web link to any supplementary documentation of the referenced work (for instance a link to video work)
• a short artist statement (no more than 250 words)
• no more than five URL links to any sites that further detail or document your work

Your application and portfolio should demonstrate:

• evidence of practical and theoretical knowledge of, and experimentation with, a variety of formal, aesthetic and conceptual approaches to the production, distribution and exhibition of contemporary art
• evidence of practical or theoretical work that addresses key thematic areas in contemporary art and theoretical discourse
• evidence of collaborative working practices, either in a capacity as an artist or working curatorially; evidence of independent working practices, as an artist or curator

This programme enables you to develop an ambitious art practice and provides you with the organisational and economic knowledge to thrive as a self-employed artist and to work in the contemporary art sector.