Master of Arts in Creative Practice

The MA in Creative Practice offer artists, designers and filmmakers a creative and critically informed environment in which to develop and consolidate their practice. The course will support imaginative, experimental and interdisciplinary enquiry through a range of media and approaches.This Level 9 qualification in Creative Practice, is available over 12 months from October to September. Students will choose one of four strands in which to base their study:1. Contemporary art studio practice2. Digital cultures3. Film and lens based media4. Socially engaged practiceThe course is structured so as to balance general and specific demands of various practices. Students will be encouraged to work collaboratively as well as be independent, self-directed critical thinkers. The emphasis of the course is on the student completing a large practice-based project. This culminates with the production of a final exhibition, film screening or project presentation with a thesis demonstrating appropriate critical contextualization of the practice based work.There are three mandatory taught modules:1. Themes and Issues in Creative Practice (10 credits)2. Professional Development (10 credits)3. Research and Innovation (10 credits)Students undertaking the MA will also undertake either a 60 credit Research Project, or two 30 credit modules, Creative Practice Project and Minor Thesis.The Research Project or Creative Practice Project is initiated by a project proposal which will be guided and developed to completion by the end of the course.In the case of the 60 credit Research Project module; first, a practice-based element is undertaken where the student focuses on developing their art, film, digital media or socially engaged practice to completion.The second element seeks to critically contextualize their practice through the written form, taking into consideration the wider social and cultural fields in which their practice will perform. The two elements can overlap to a greater or lesser extent depending on the project and the individual requirements.This structure has allowed the separation and offering of the Creative Practice Project module, followed by the Minor Thesis module. These two 30 credit modules largely mirror the overlapping elements structure of the 60 credit module, however they can also be taken independently. This flexibility also allows the opportunity of an exit from the MA programme with a 60 credit Post-Graduate Diploma.View the ATU MA in Creative Practice Catalogue 2024