MA

Master in Contemporary Art (120 ETC)
Application deadline 15th of September 2011

The profile of the Academy serves as the fundament for the Master Programme and the key values are artistic integrity, sustainability, critical awareness and responsibility. The aim to cultivate these qualities is reflected in the organisational structure and pedagogical groundwork of the Academy. The programme aspires to create an environment in which the students develop abilities to investigate Thematic Fields, which before each two-year study period is decided upon by an Advisory Board. The Thematic Fields are related to the specific context of the Academy in Tromsø as well as the global, critical discourse.

Thematic Field Topic 1
January 2012- December 2013:
SUSTAINABILITY/CAPITALISM/ART

Study plan:

Admission requirements

  • A completed Bachelor in Art, or equivalent education at university or college level.
  • Approved copies of education
  • Applicants should be fluent in both written and oral English. English skills will be tested at the time of the interview.
  • Portfolio including documentation of earlier works/projects and a presentation of work/research in progress and listed documentation, format, technique, materials, production year, title/description
  • Applicant`s individual research objective that unfolds the specific areas of research he/she will investigate in the Master Project/Self Defined Research.
  • A motivation text (2 pages) articulating the applicants’ expectations to themselves, the student group, the Thematic Field and the Academy.
  • Applicants without Norwegian Identification Number should apply with this form: søknadsskjema
  • Applicants with Norwegian Identification Number should apply through søkndsweb (Studiet finnes under Mastergradsprogram, vår 2012 og har søknadskode 8038)
  • Portfolio, documentation of education, description of research objective, motivation letter, application form (no National ID) or receipt from søknadsweb (with National ID) should all be sent to the following address:

    University of Tromsø
    Kunstakademiet/Academy of Contemporary Art
    9037 Tromsø, Norway

Passed admission, interview focusing on:

  • The applicant`s interest in the prevailing Thematic Field.
  • His/her motivation to attend this specific programme.
  • Ability and interest in actively participation in a group.

The Master Programme is established to attract individuals who want to develop their artistic capabilities within a discursive and collaborative framework. It requires that students must demonstrate a considerable degree of independence as well as skills of orientation, articulation and project management.

Learning outcome

After concluding the Master Programme the candidate should have the following total learning outcome:

General proficiency

  • Share, discuss and contribute with ideas and knowledge in a collective context.
  • Contribute to the development and innovation of the professional art field.
  • Handle ethical issues connected to artistic research.

Knowledge

  • A deep knowledge within the Thematic Field.
  • An advanced level within research, theory and artistic approach.

Skills

  • Ability to explore, develop, materialize and communicate both his/her artistic practice and research in a profound and clear way.
  • Show independence and  originality in confrontation with artistic challenges.
  • Initiate, lead and complete his/her artistic projects.
  • Analyze, reflect, connect and communicate theoretical, discursive as well as aesthetic matters on a high level.

The Master in Contemporary Art educates performer to work independently as a professional artist. The study qualifies for admission to Ph.D. programs in Contemporary Art, Fine Arts or Visual Arts as well as admission the National Norwegian Artistic Research Fellowships Programme.

Structure

The study is structured around three courses:

  • Lessons on Thematic field (30 ECTS)
  • Practising self-organization (30 ECTS)
  • Master Project/Self defined research (60 ECTS)

2nd year
SAK-3000
Lessons on Thematic field
SAK-3001
Practising self-organisation
including international study trip
SAK-3002
Master project
Self defined research
including publication and presentation of the self defined research

1st year
SAK-3000
Lessons on Thematic field
including publication
SAK-3001
Practising self-organisation
including regional study trip
SAK-3002
Master project
Self defined research

Curriculum

Lessons on Thematic Field (30 ECTS)

The purpose of the Thematic Field is to serve as theoretical and artistic fundament for the Master Programme. The Thematic Field can have a focus on theoretical, discursive as well as aesthetic matters and should alter for each Master Programme. The Thematic Field will be decided upon by a five member Advisory Board and will be announced in November the previous year. The Board should consist of one student representative, member of teaching staff, two external experts and Institute Leader. The Thematic Field will always be found within the framework of the Academy`s profile and key values (see profile).
The purpose of the Thematic Field is to serve as a basis for selecting a group of students that is highly motivated for the Master Programme, and that together can achieve an advanced level in research, theory and artistic approach.  Lessons on Thematic field (SAK-3000) is taught during all four semesters of the study and students have to complete compulsory working requirement every semester to be eligible to continue. The Thematic Field builds the common discursive frame of the Master Programme and the course functions as a platform for reading, discussion and analysis and the aim is to investigate the relationship between aesthetics, theory and science.
(Examples of Thematic Fields could be Human Ecology, Nature and Morality, Arctic Landscape and Urbanity.)

Thematic Field Topic 1
January 2012- December 2013:
SUSTAINABILITY/CAPITALISM/ART

Download course description: Emnebeskrivelse_SAK-3000

Practising Self-Organisation (30 ECTS)

The Academy of Contemporary Art at the University of Tromsø recognises the importance of Self-organisation as a tool to develop alternative ideas and structures based on openness, respect and responsibility. The course Practising Self-organisation (SAK-3001) is both practical and theoretical focusing on different theories and methods dealing with Self-organisation. The subject is taught during all four semesters of the programme and students have to complete compulsory working requirement every semester to be eligible to continue. As a part of the course curriculum the students have to plan, prepare and arrange two study trips. The 1st year students work on a regional study trip while the 2nd year students work on an international study trip. The organisation of the trips are done in collaboration with the teaching staff.

Download course description: Emnebeskrivelse_SAK-3001

Master Project/Self Defined Research (60 ECTS)

The Master Project/Self Defined Research  (SAK-3001) is each student’s object of investigation (artistic project) in relation to the Thematic Field and is a subject based on self defined research. The field of study is determined by each student based on his/hers experiences and the direction in which he/she wants to expand his/hers artistic practice. During this course the student should explore, develop and materialise his/hers field of interest.
Combined with the other students` Self Defined Research this constitutes a diverse and complex curriculum specific to the class/actual group of students and as such contributes to a broader field of interest within the group.

Download course description: Emnebeskrivelse_SAK-3002

Exams and evaluation

Assessment
Each student presents his/her final Master Project/Self defined research in the form of an exhibition or other artistic event. The exhibition will be followed by a public oral presentation where each student presents his/her work to an audience. Each student is also required to contribute to a collective publication that unfolds his/her self defined research and final Master Project.
Exhibition, presentation and contribution to publication are compulsory in the assessment of the study and are assessed as Passed/Failed.

Demands
To be eligible to the exam students must be present to 75 % of the lessons and compulsory activities in all the subjects. Contributions to publication both First and Second year are compulsory. Students also have to participate to mandatory presentations.

Evaluation
At the end of each term the students will have a group evaluation of the semester together with the teaching staff. Each student will also have an individual evaluation/feedback with the programme professor focusing both on the student’s artistic development and his/her experiences with social and teaching environment.

Re-examination
If Failed the student have the right to a Re-examination within the following term. Re-examination consists of an exhibition, presentation and text about the development of Self Defined Research and a reflection on the final Master Project.

Language

Lectures, reading material, tutoring and exams are in English.

International exchange

A study excursion abroad is a compulsory component of the course SAK-3001. The excursion will be co-organised with the staff at the Academy and other professionals with specific insight about the destination.

Required reading material

The required course reading material will be composed by the teaching staff and the students at the beginning of each year.

Other comments

The Master Programme will be continuously evaluated in pursuance of the Quality System for educational activities at the University of Tromsø, as well as the evaluation plans at the Faculty of Arts.

Research in this context is referring to artistic process, the work that leads to or unfolds the art work.

 

Download study plan: MA STUDY PLAN


 

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