Course summary

Explore your creativity and experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, installation, performance, digital, digital 3D, video and sound art at the University of Bolton. Our BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice with foundation year course employs traditional fine art methods, processes, and theoretical frameworks for contemporary and ever-evolving public-facing contexts. You’ll create outward-facing work every semester and gain creative sector experience. The University of Bolton's BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice with foundation year course supports you in developing professional creative practice ready to capture, analyse and challenge complex social and political issues. Our experienced staff are practising artists who will encourage you to explore themes and contexts in broader art history, allowing you to locate your practice in a historically informed contemporary context. We offer a supportive environment where you can develop your creative skills and knowledge. Using our well-equipped workshops and dedicated studio space, our expert team will support you in developing outward-facing output in each semester of every level of study. The foundation year allows you to discover and strengthen research, design, practical and communication skills that are essential for success as you study Contemporary Art Practice. You'll explore an array of core techniques relating to the creative arts industries, including drawing, painting, sculpting, and finishing techniques, investigating both traditional and digital technologies. The foundation year also aims to build your confidence in academic skills such as literature searching, academic referencing and written and oral communication techniques. As you progress through the course, we'll help you develop technical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, installation, performance, digital, digital 3D, video and sound art, and new and emerging technologies. We embed relevant and appropriate strands of professional practice throughout each level, so you'll gain the knowledge and skills to curate, document, promote, market, and critique exhibitions of art. We'll encourage you to explore public engagement strategies and use the University's excellent industry links. You'll have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a range of industry specialists. Our tutors have a wealth of experience delivering contemporary art for public display. They will support you in building your portfolio, ready to deliver a professionally presented and industry-ready creative show in your final year. Throughout the BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice with foundation year, we'll nurture your curiosity and encourage you to become a socially engaged and community-facing contemporary artist who responds to current social-political issues and concerns. We'll focus on building your confidence from the very start. We'll help develop your self-belief so that you can make work for public engagement, interact with people outside of the studio through your art, and prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We aim for you to graduate with an inquisitive mind, the inclination to collaborate, and an expanded and broad transferable skillset.