To be an artist is to be attuned to difference, experimentation and openness, and to stage creative, experiential encounters between ourselves and the World. Art has personal, expressive, social and critical dimensions. It is as diverse in its materials, as it is in its outcomes. It disturbs, provokes and reframes, with wonder, vitality and verve.

You’ll be taught by a team of professional artists who work with a diverse range of media and materials. You will be exposed to an eclectic range of practices, including painting, drawing, performance, image-making, sculpture, installation, film, digital processes, electronics and photography.

This will enable you to refine your visual, performative and critical skills in order to cultivate a unique, distinctive and personal mode of contemporary artistic practice.

We offer you the opportunity to:

• Work in a lively and dynamic studio environment. You’ll be encouraged to develop your creative and conceptual thinking, whilst being supported by our widely experienced, specialist tutors and technicians.
• Engage and experiment with the tools, technologies of other disciplines within the creative arts building to develop experimental and expanded modes of practice.
• Be exposed to a range of inspiring guest speakers and participate in live sessions and workshops delivered by professional artists external to the university.
• Use our links with industry and professional practitioners to gain the opportunity to take part in live projects, national competitions, awards and exhibitions.

The course is part of a suite of three courses that includes Contemporary Art BA(Hons), Illustration BA(Hons) and the combined Contemporary Art and Illustration BA(Hons). Art is an adventure. Your initial choice should excite you, but can be adapted throughout your time on the course.

Placements

The course offers an optional one-year (36 weeks minimum) work placement after the second year, in the UK or abroad. This will give you the opportunity to gain valuable hands-on experience, insight into your chosen career and open up your graduate employment prospects. Our Placement Unit and academic staff have excellent industry links and can support you in applying for and finding your placement(s), as well as during your placement year.

Students within the area of Contemporary Art and Illustration have previously taken up placement opportunities with companies including: House of Illustration - London; Venture Arts - Manchester; Mini Me Card Company - Skipton and Plum Pudding Publishing - Surrey.

Alternatively, if you are a student from within the UK or the EU, you could consider starting your own small business by applying for the Enterprise Placement Year in conjunction with the University’s Enterprise Team. You’ll have the opportunity to benefit from business advice, mentoring and networking sessions. You can find out more information on the Enterprise Placement Year here.

Your Career

Following the course you may opt for further study, or could consider a career as an artist, curator, or a role in community arts, the media or design for example. Our graduates have won awards and prizes such as the Northern Graduates Prize, The Alternative Turner Prize, and New Sensations (a joint venture between the Saatchi Gallery and Channel 4). They've also gone on to work for companies such as East Street Arts, Leicestershire Craft Centre, Pyramid of Arts, Studio 116 Design, The Whitechapel Gallery in London, Tate Liverpool, the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and The Hepworth Wakefield.**