MPhil/PhD Art Practice & Learning

The programme aims to promote practice research into the dialogical relations between pedagogical and art practices; a central purpose is to expand understanding of what both can become. The programme anticipates that through an exploration and interrogation of the dialogical relations between arts practices and pedagogies, sites of practice and sites of learning you will engage with areas such as philosophical, political and aesthetic and material dimensions of learning and practice.

The outcomes of the practice research will consist of a practice component with a written thesis of which together articulate a coherent and integrated research study in which both components are viewed equally as contributing to the research. The written component must be able to demonstrate a clearly articulated research project and a rigorous theoretical engagement with the research focus, drawing upon, analysing and applying relevant literature.

The practice component must demonstrate an exploration and articulation of the practice research focus that draws upon domains of practice including visual or other practices to inform the research. The practice is not an 'illustration' to the written thesis. The practice and written thesis should be appropriate to the inquiry and should be considered to complement and support each other and the research question/s that govern the submission as a whole, inclusing the length of the written thesis and the presentation of the practice. The written thesis and the practice will be submitted concurrently and the examined as a whole. The practice component could, for example, take the form of an exhibition/s, a film/video (approximately one hour in length), an installation, a web-based production, a performances, socially-engaged work, sonic work or performance.

A key feature of the MPhil/PhD in Art Practice & Learning is that you will be part of the research community of the Centre for the Arts and Learning that meets regularly each term to discuss/share/debate research and ideas, and to discuss readings and art practice. This research community involves artists, academics, teachers etc.