Course summary

The new MA Creative and Professional Practice (Visual Arts) programme is an exciting Level 7 programme which has been designed in consultation with a steering group of regional and national art-based practitioners covering a variety of specialisms. This innovative MA programme will challenge students not only in their range of knowledge and skills but through increasing autonomy and industrial confidence. The overriding aim of this MA programme is to offer a mode of study which encourages a holistic approach to creative practices, synthesising traditional academic study with vocational creative skill development and knowledge and application of current industry processes and experience. This will be achieved though progressional study of subject specific techniques and processes, research methodologies and academia, and industry engagement. The Visual Arts students will tap into a range of creative industry employers and arts practitioners as visiting speakers covering disciplines such as fashion, textiles, visual communication, photography, 3D and spatial design. Drawing from current professional practitioners and processes, students will develop advanced subject-specific skills, enabling them to respond to complex creative problems, and develop cognitive skills to support decision making within their own practice. The multidisciplinary nature of this course will expose students to a range of practical, methodological and philosophical discourses relevant to a contemporary creative and performance practice. Collaboration will optimise learning opportunities across all practical and theoretical activity and will prepare students for a range of careers within the creative industries. The freelance nature of the creative industries. Within this module students will work either within an established industry role, external placement or a simulated work-placement within Newcastle College (as a FE / HE lecturer or industry specialist in relation to the existing Work-Based Learning modules at level 4 and Level 5) to undertake an action research or professional development project. Alternatively, students working in the freelance industry will be challenged through a series of business development lecturers and seminars, to look develop their freelance work into entrepreneurial small businesses. You could pursue a creative career either working as an independent freelance creative or gain employment in your creative discipline. You could also pursue a career in teaching through progress to study a PGCE qualification or academic progression with a PhD. Graduates will be able to pursue a range of careers across the visual and digital arts industries such as artists, illustrators, photographers, designers, teachers, arts managers, producers, academics and critics.