MA Fine Art Welcome Guide

Preparing for your course

We're delighted that you've chosen to join our creative community at Arts University Bournemouth. We can't wait to see what you'll create.

Welcome to the MA Fine Art course

This welcome pack is designed to give you an idea of what to expect during the first weeks of your course. Please take the time to read it carefully and take particular note of the pre-course preparation. The team and I hope that you'll enjoy a happy and productive time with us and look forward to meeting you.

A message from your Course Team

Congratulations on your place. I would like to welcome you as a postgraduate student studying here at Arts University Bournemouth.

I hope that you are excited by the prospect of the challenges that this period of advanced study will bring, and that you'll immerse yourself in the activities that we have planned. The nature of the course offers significant opportunities for you to think beyond your chosen discipline and it is this richness and sharing of ideas, along with a preparedness to take creative risks that renders, in our experience, meaningful, imaginative and intellectually rewarding outcomes.

We want to offer you the best support while you are with us.

Before you join us

While there is no specified pre-course project, we recommend that you visit as many exhibitions as you can and get into the habit of writing about what you see and think, as you'll be reflecting and analysing all aspects of your practice and the work of others while on the course.

The central thread of the course is a distinct focus and reassessment of autobiography and the familiar, through differing understandings of creativity. What constitutes a meaningful and useful research methodology in one culture may be considered unknown, unnecessary or redundant in another.

You're encouraged to explore and unpick your own working strategies and methods, in the context of broader cultural and educational differences offered by the course and your peers. This is therefore a good habit to get into before you start.

Recommended reading in preparation for your period of Postgraduate study and as a means to introducing you to approaches for research at this level, we recommend that you read the following:

Boon, M. & Levine, G. (2018) Practice: Documents of Contemporary Art. MIT Press.
Furlong. W. ed. (2010) Speaking of Art – Four decades of art in conversation. London: Phaidon.
O'Doherty, B. (2007) Studio and Cube. New York: The Temple Hoyne Buell Centre, Columbia University.
Obrist, H.U. (2014) Ways of Curating. London: Penguin.
Taylor, M., Sharp, A. & Higgs, M. (2005) pressPLAY: contemporary artists in conversation. London: Phaidon
Lack, J., (2017) Why Are We 'Artists'?: 100 World Art Manifestos. Penguin Modern Classics

Art Monthly
a-n magazine
re-title

Visualising Research: A guide to the research process in art and design. Available at: http://www.visualizingresearch.info
Listen/Watch Tate archival material: Artist Talks, Lectures and Conferences. It is possible to access most from this page – just search for ‘Artist Talks’ etc http://www.tate.org.uk/search?q=talks&type=media (Tate podcasts are also good)

What to bring on your first day

All you need to bring on your first day is a notebook and a pen/pencil.

Although you'll have access to short-term loan computers and digital equipment, you're advised to bring your own laptop, camera/camera phone, and external hard drive.

A limited selection of 2D and 3D materials may be purchased and are available at approximately 50% less than high street prices. Materials for workshops are often provided.