Semester 1
Exploration and Enquiry (30 Credits)
A practice based module that provides students with the necessary critical, practical and intellectual framework to investigate and develop a sustainable creative practice at masters level. This module focuses on the development of self-directed, practice-led research and the establishment of a creative and critical engagement in a chosen field.
Design Thinking (20 Credits) - Option A
This module combines theme-based workshops with case studies to provide students with a framework of practice and theory in which they can locate and explore diverse approaches to design practice.
How the Arts Think (20 Credits) - Option B
This module provides a historical and thematic introduction to current debates about the relationship between art and thought, art and language, art and interpretation which acknowledge that art-making can itself be a way of ‘doing’ history and of making conceptual propositions. The content of the module takes the form of visual and textual case studies, which are the material for discussion in the weekly seminar.
Information, Writing, Communication and the Arts (10 Credits)
This module introduces different approaches to information, writing and communication. Topics covered include: gathering information; questionnaires; types of writing; presentation skills; and critical thinking.
Semester 2
Development (30 Credits)
This practice based module develops skills and experience concerning the research process, its management, documentation, dissemination and evaluation. It facilitates sustained independent enquiry within a clearly determined creative, intellectual and intuitive area, fostering responsive modes of engagement with publics and/or consumers.
It will lead to a critically challenged, developed and substantiated project that is concluded at postgraduate level or, through enhancement, provide a solid foundation for higher level resolution in a Master’s proposal with potential for advanced research at doctoral level.
Creative Industries and Entrepreneurship (20 Credits) - Option A
This module is located within the context(s) of entrepreneurially centered pedagogy. By questioning obfuscatory discombobulation this module equips practitioners with the necessary generic and subject-specific skills to enable and substantiate sustained creative practice within a challenging cultural and economic context.
Cultural Practices in Context (20 Credits) - Option B
Teaching Staff: Prof. Willie Doherty, Susanne Bosch (Module Coordinator)
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Mey.
Guests: Monica Nunez, Curator Belfast Exposed, Ian Davidson, ACNI, Brighdin Farrel, Independent Curator.
This module will contribute to the development of students’ ability to pursue further academic study or to practice as an independent cultural producer/facilitator. The module interrogates a range of contexts and conditions of cultural practices through a critical analysis of key models of engagement, issues and debates across a range of cultural domains, subject areas and media. It promotes students’ awareness of their own position as creative producer/ facilitator in the public territory in a global context.
The assignment will ask the students to identify a project or exhibition that they will pick up after finishing their master degree, in 6-12 months time. They will formulate that project or exhibition, identify a site or location, the needed budget and other requirement. The students will then write a funding application for the project or exhibition (Art Council funding form NI or Rep Ireland, other application need to be agreed on with the lecturers).
The students will be asked to plan this first professional event after graduation including PR and a printed publication. They will further be invited to introduce their project / exhibition in front of a professional audience and peers in short verbal presentations.
The aim of the module is to raise self awareness for one own context and current position and possibilities in this context. It further promotes a serious step into a professional career by actively planning the period after graduation.
Research Environment (10 Credits)
This module will equip students to address key issues about contemporary environments for cultural practice, delivered through a programme of weekly seminars.
Each seminar is based on a thematic approach and led by the module co-ordinator. The seminars will examine a range of case studies and key texts, to draw upon relevant theoretical and investigative tools and approaches and situate cultural practices in terms of wider social, cultural or political contexts. The module reading list will equip students with the textual, visual and theoretical means to investigate and evaluate cultural practices.
Semester 3
Masters Project (60 Credits)
This module will support students in the advancement, to resolution stage, of their individual negotiated project. The module facilitates high level consolidation and refinement, through advanced studio practice focused upon critical modification and development. The module content facilitates the advancement of self-directed research and rigorous creative and critical engagement in collaboration with peers and the partners necessary to fabricate, deliver, present and promote the outcome. The resolved products or services will be published in an appropriate public domain such as product launch, demonstration, exhibition, show, event, performance, publication.
