Fine Art BA (Hons)

This course is designed for students joining from art access courses, including art foundation, you'll have the opportunity to build on your practical skills and explore the theory and history of art at Reading School of Art. You will benefit from our distinct approach to the subject, combining practice, theory and history - especially in contemporary art. You can experiment with a range of subjects and media, exploring painting, sculpture (such as welding and casting), printmaking, as well as digital media.

Our studios are a creative, lively and stimulating environment in which to develop the skills you have already acquired. You will receive a dedicated space with access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is always a high level of activity in the studios with events, screenings, performances and exhibitions taking place regularly. A student-run gallery and experimental project spaces are also available for you to explore.

We focus heavily on exhibitions, and regular field trips to national and international museums, art institutions and galleries will give you the chance to consider the diverse conditions in which art is created, displayed and received. You will gain professional experience by taking part in your own exhibitions, public art commissions and events. Open debate and constructive criticism are actively encouraged, and you will openly discuss your work with peers and teaching staff.

Career

Our courses will equip you with the knowledge, intellectual ability and practice-led skills you need to make an imaginative and effective contribution to the art world - or the wider creative industries. As well as the practical experience gained on this degree, our students graduate with a range of transferable skills, such as self-motivation, time management and strategic thinking.

Many of our graduates develop successful careers as artists, writers and curators. These include a few famous alumni, such as Turner Prize-nominated artists, and PhD students who are award-winning artists and curators at influential museums. Others have found employment in galleries, education, art therapy, film and video production, journalism, advertising and teaching. Recent employers include Tate, Whitechapel Gallery, Christies, Microsoft, the BBC, Victoria & Albert Museum, and Manolo Blahnik.