Masters in Critical Curatorial Practices at Plymouth College of Art

(21 months part-time or 1 year full-time Masters degree)

This Masters course offers recent graduates and existing practitioners the opportunity to develop their curatorial interests through a strong project-led programme that explores the many facets of contemporary curating. Reflecting the shifting topographies of creative enterprise today in which boundaries between disciplines are increasingly blurred and curatorial and creative practices habitually overlap, the course supports you in developing curatorial models and methods appropriate to your concerns.

As a specialist art college, we encourage the attitudes and skills to balance individuality with the ability to collaborate and the potential to become a change agent in your field.

The course will introduce you to a range of creative curatorial issues, intentions and associated media forms supported by our international, national and local curatorial partnerships. You will individualise your learning through live projects explored and appraised in relation to a matrix of local-global issues, interactions and opportunities that shape contemporary cultural conditions. Allowing you to hone the multi-disciplinary skills, experience and knowledge that underpin successful curatorial undertakings, it will support the development of your own research, planning and logistical skills.

Suitable for those who want to research and develop new curatorial processes, tools and models within an investigative multi-disciplinary project-based structure that addresses contemporary social and cultural conditions.

How is the programme structured?

This Masters is offered as a 21 month part-time degree or 1 year full time degree.  Part-time students have one formal day of study per week in the College and full-time students have two days of formal study per week. You need to commit to additional hours of personal study as required to achieve practical, theoretical and experiential assignments within the modules. A specialist programme team of curators, supported by visiting lecturers, enriches your course experience.

What resources are available for me?

You will have access to a dedicated postgraduate space each week and, additionally, can use any of the technical resources and workshops which form a part of the College (print, ceramics, glass, small and large metals, dry workshop, fashion studios, laser cutters, fine arts studio and more). You will also have available the Learning Resource Centre, the Equipment Resource Centre, large format and special printers, and a full range of IT rooms and equipment. 

How much time and money will I need to commit?

This programme is offered part-time and full-time. For the part-time route you attend one formal study day a week for the duration of the programme, which will last 21 months. The full time route requires at least two formal study days per week and lasts for 1 year. You need to commit to additional hours of personal study time as required to achieve practical, theoretical and experiential assignments within the modules. 

Fees for 2012/13 are £4,800 for 1 year full-time or 21 months part-time. Fees can be paid in instalments of £240 pcm over 20 months for the part-time course and £480 pcm for the one year full-time course.

Recent Plymouth College of Art graduates (within 5 years of graduating) receive a 20% discount, so the fee is reduced to £4,000 for the full or part-time course. Discounted fees can also be paid in instalments of £200 pcm for 20 months for the part-time course and £400 pcm for the one year full-time course. 

For further information, please email Karin Jordan, Postgraduate Programme Leader kjordan@plymouthart.ac.uk or telephone 01752 203434