BA (Hons) Fine Art

Unit 1

Unit 1: Introducing Fine Art

This unit introduces you to a set of skills and techniques associated with a range of fine art disciplines and inducts you to the processes, materials and equipment associated with these disciplines.
The aim is to familiarize you with the visual language and techniques involved in various fine art mediums, which will enable you to work independently. Additionally, the course will introduce you to methods of generating ideas for your work by utilizing materials and techniques from various fine art disciplines.

Unit 2

Unit 2: Developing Visual Research

• To enable you to understand and utilise a range of drawing and visual research processes as a fundamental element of your studio practice.
• To introduce you to the relationship between your developing visual research and creatively exploring working methods in your independent studio-based work. 
• To develop an understanding of the relationship between theory, ideas and practice.
• To encourage the objective evaluation of your work and others in your group.

Unit 3

Unit 3: Thematic Project

Establishment of a coherent theme and set of ideas to explore through the experimentation of a more focussed approach to fine art practice Development of the ability to employ, discern and understand a range of selected drawing processes and visual research and to locate them usefully within your research process.
Development of an understanding of the relationship between theories, ideas and practice to objectively evaluate your work and that of others.
Exploration of the diversity of approaches to fine art practice and the selection of strategies that will enable you to work unassisted.

Unit 4

Unit 4: Cultural and Contextual Studies

A series of sessions and workshops that form the basis of your understanding of theoretical frameworks, cultural, historical and social contexts from an art and creative perspective and begin to develop research and investigative skills. You will engage in discussions and debate, as you explore a range of topics and you will be asked to communicate your response to these topics through self-initiated research and critical examination.

Unit 5

Unit 5: Fine Art Opportunities

• Introduction to a range of art-based career opportunities and associated financial considerations.
• Development of your understanding of various Fine Art professional contexts such as education, public arts and galleries.
• Introduction to the skills necessary for personal professional promotion and management.
• Development of your visual and oral presentation/communication skills. This will include public presentation, risk management and the legal and H&S concerns of public art.

This forms part of the professional practice unit suite which encourages you to make connections between your creative research, professional practice and studio units.

Unit 6

Unit 6: Exploratory & Interdisciplinary Practice

• The identification of two areas of fine art practice which offer the opportunity and creative potential to explore and experiment within a selected range of fine art processes, materials and techniques.
• Increased development of the ability to integrate a wide range of drawing practices and appropriate visual research into the creative process.
• Further development of an understanding and ability to explore and communicate theory and ideas in your work within the context of contemporary and historical practice.
• Development of your critical awareness and ability to analyse visual imagery through the reflection, review and evaluation of your work.
• Facilitate independence by introducing a self-directed programme of study.
• Workshops reflecting student-led learning - you will have the opportunity to request additional workshops/technical inputs to enable you to bring your ideas from concept to realisation.

Unit 7

Unit 7: Confirmatory Project

• Further development of your understanding and ability to explore ideas within the context of contemporary and historical fine art practice that directly relate to your studio practice.
• Refinement of your area of research and assimilation of more relevant visual research methods appropriate to your individual creative studio practice.
• Clarity in the selection of materials and techniques leading to a more focused approach to your creative studio practice.
• Formulation of independent judgments through the reflection, review and evaluation of your work with increasing focus and rigour.
• Development of independent learning by introducing a more focused self-directed programme of study.

Unit 8

Unit 8: Advanced Cultural & Contextual Studies

A series of sessions that continues to develop your understanding of theoretical frameworks, cultural, historical and social contexts. You will engage in discussions and debate, and be supported in the continued development of academic and research skills. You will engage in self-directed research and critical examination of a topic, presenting your response in an academic format.

Unit 9

Unit 9: Potential Prospects

• Research areas of professional interest to consider future career opportunities.
• Research, review and evaluate current contemporary exhibitions.
• Identify professional contexts relevant to your personal development and possible future career.
• Select and develop appropriate technical skills necessary for your personal and professional promotion and
  management.
• Develop your visual and oral presentation/communication skills.
• This forms part of the professional practice unit suite which encourages you to make connections between your creative research, professional practice and studio units.

Unit 10

Unit 10: Minor Project

• Development of independent, ambitious work on an individually defined, self-directed programme of fine art practice in preparation for the Major Project.
• Student-led curriculum design forms a part of this unit which will allow for individual support, group recap/support and development through a series of requested workshops.
• Development of greater sophistication in the ability to select, assimilate and utilise visual information, including drawing in the planning and production of a focussed body of experimental work made in preparation for the final unit of the course.
• Confident selection and employment of more advanced processes and techniques for the production of your work as part of the planning for the Major Project.
• Exploration of complex ideas and the development of the sophisticated critical awareness required to increase your ability to analyse and evaluate your work within the context of contemporary and historical art.

Unit 11

Unit 11: Major Project & Degree Show

• Consolidation of complex ideas to nurture sophisticated critical awareness and increase the ability to analyse, contextualise and evaluate your work and that of others.
• Greater sophistication in the ability to select, assimilate and utilise visual information, including drawing in the production of a focussed body of work made for the final exhibition.
• Confident selection and employment of more advanced processes and techniques for the production of work for the final degree show exhibition.
• Carrying out independent, ambitious work on an individually defined, self-directed programme of studio practice for the final exhibition.

Unit 12

Unit 12: Creative and Critical Research Project (Dissertation)

This unit supports a self-directed, detailed research examination of a topic, which takes the form of a critical investigation. An initial series of sessions will support you in your proposed choice of topic, which is then presented in the form of a proposal and includes an overview of research sources and resources that have informed your choice of research activity.
The second part of the unit will be carried out through self-directed research where you will critically investigate and form a response to a negotiated research area topic, supported by individual feedback and tutorials as the investigation is undertaken. The final presentation of the results of the research will use academic convention in its layout and identification of research sources and include a detailed critical commentary offering a perspective of the research and investigation into the topic. The presentation style will be informed by the type of research undertaken and could include a dissertation, report, case study or website for example.
All submissions will be Harvard-referenced.
A formative presentation of a proposal for a detailed research investigation which includes:

• Outline of proposed topic for investigation
• Presentation of, not less, than 10 research sources to support investigation of topic
• Identification of additional resources required in support of the research activity
• Rationale in the choice of presentation style for the chosen topic to be investigated
• Bibliography of research sources

Unit 13

Unit 13: Self Promotion

• Development of your understanding in areas of professional interest in order to facilitate future career choices.
• Refinement of digital skills necessary for your personal professional promotion, management and development.
• Development of your visual and oral presentation/communication skills in order to clearly communicate your intentions.
• Engagement with professional contexts connected to your personal development and intended future fine art practice.