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.