MA Social Applications of the Visual Arts
Welcome to Bournville Centre
for Visual Arts where the course is based.
(about Bournville)
The course provides a means by which visual arts graduates and arts administrators or co-ordinators can develop their careers in a number of social contexts.
It is founded on the belief that art is essentially a form of social engagement, able to play an enriching and integral part in many aspects of people’s lives.
The emphasis throughout is on broadening access to the visual arts by developing practices and working in contexts which will engage and involve a larger number of people. Accordingly, the course is specially designed to meet the needs of visual arts organizations and audiences for trained facilitators and intermediaries.
In recognition of the changing scope and status of art in society, emphasis is also laid on transferable skills and the development of an understanding of the interconnectedness of contemporary contexts and practices. As well as fostering flexibility and a solid understanding of the cultural mechanisms by which art becomes part of the social, the course also offers the opportunity to specialise in or, where appropriate, to continue developing professionally in one strand of facilitatory or intermediary practice within the visual arts.
Links to Arts Organisations
The PgCert/PgDip/MA Social Applications of the Visual Arts complements
both the Arts Council of England’s
and Birmingham City Council’s development plans with reference to
the arts in society and the strategic policies of regional development
agencies and arts organisations. It is intended to assist in the expansion
in the production and consumption of the arts in society and in the improvement
of the public’s perceptions of, access to and participation in the
visual arts. In particular, it enables individual graduates and arts employees
to develop their personal careers through work-based learning, informed
and guided by current theory and critical positions. In bringing these
functions together, the course offers a highly flexible, interactive programme
of academic study and practical engagement that develops a vital understanding
of the diversity of current professional practice in the social applications
of the visual arts.
Links to Practice
In many cases, visual arts graduates and practitioners continue to develop
as artists (the artist/curator, the artist/writer). A dominant model in
the cultural industries is now that of a portfolio career where individuals
combine several different modes of work, employed on short-term contracts,
freelancing and working in consultancy, or any combination of these in
multiple job-holding. Accordingly, the course either develops the communication
and organizational skills needed for managing diverse roles and occupations
which require adaptability and initiative, or providing a means by which
workers already in the field can integrate workplace experience with critical
reflection and professional development. As indicated by the range of
specialist modules and links built up with a number of professional bodies,
the course serves a large public constituency through a number of key
social and professional contexts.
Links to Experience
Students are expected to hold a relevant first degree which provides a
suitable basis for arts facilitation/mediation. This could be either a
practice based or purely academic qualification, for example a BA in fine
art, one of the design subjects, arts administration, history of art and
design, media studies, or cultural studies. The suitability of broader
qualifications will be judged on the potential shown in the application
and at interview. Students without formal entry qualifications will be
considered if their previous experience and achievements are relevant
and they demonstrate the potential to meet the academic demands of the
course.