About this course
- Entry year: 2012/13
- Course code: WW1212
- Applications: University
- Level: Postgraduate
- Department: Creative Industries
- Campus: Bower Ashton
- Duration: MA 18 months full-time, 36 months part-time;
Postgraduate Diploma 12 months full-time, 24 months part-time.
- Delivery: Part-time, Full-time
- Study Abroad: No
- Programme leader: Sarah Bodman
Introduction
Known for its innovative approach to the production of artworks, artefacts and texts, MA Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking encourages creative practitioners to develop and explore their ideas through the production of works in multiple formats including printmaking and/or book arts. The course concentrates on 'making' and the comprehension of a wide range of processes through a combination of contextual knowledge and understanding. It gives you a unique opportunity to develop a range of creative, conceptual, technical and professional skills.
The programme is 'modular' allowing the choice, time and flexibility to develop new skills and ambitions. This means that you can adapt your programme of study to best suit your needs. You can also change whether you study full or part-time by changing the number of modules you study each year.
Have a look at work by some of our students on our flickr gallery
Structure
Content
The programme is made up of five modules.
1. Introduction to Multi-Disciplinary Printmaking: 30 credits
This module deals with the wider vocabulary of topics, debates, processes and issues around multi-disciplinary print. It allows you to become familiar with the resources available to you and begin to negotiate a programme of independent study.
2. Option Module: 30 credits
At this stage of the course you are able to take one of a series of option modules, each of which have specific sets of concerns related to the practice and theory of art, media and design.
These options are:
- Research Methodologies
- Enterprise in the Creative Industries
- Research Methods
3. Developing Practice: 30 credits
This module builds upon your skills as a practitioner and seeks to develop concepts and ideas through an understanding of the self. It culminates in an illustrated presentation concerned with your work and its context. In this part of the course you will utilise and build upon skills gained in your first two modules. You will use these techniques and knowledge to develop and realise a practical print or book arts project. The parallel development of technical skills and an understanding of the field of printmaking or artists' books is crucial.
4. Practice in a Professional Context: 30 credits
The emphasis of this module is to explore possibilities outside of the institution and participate in a placement, collaboration, or work experience situation to gain knowledge and understanding of the professional arena. You will have the opportunity to negotiate your own programme of study, which explores and evaluates printmaking or artists' books within a professional context.
The module allows you to explore your practice within or alongside a professional placement/project, which complements your particular abilities and interests. In the majority of cases, this project will take place in collaboration with an external organisation (for example a gallery or museum etc.) but aspects of the project may be conducted within the school.
5. Extended Practice: 60 credits
Building on the experience gained during your study, you undertake to produce a self directed final project that demonstrates mastery of your subject and contextualises your particular approach to multi-disciplinary printmaking.
The full masters programme comprises 180 credits divided into three 60 credits stages: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, and Masters. Students work incrementally through the three stages and must pass all modules at each stage in order to progress to the next.
Students may join the programme as either full-time or part-time students.
Full-time students typically study for three semesters over 18 months, part-time students study for six semesters over three years. A semester is a 15-week period of study and generally runs September to January and February to June.
Teaching and learning
This programme will enable you to:
- Be part of a critical mass of students from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines;
- Have access to cutting-edge technology, introduced through the research being carried out by the Centre for Fine Print Research
- Participate in the placement module in order to gain professional practice;
- Take part in a dedicated postgraduate exhibition.
Assessment
All students are assessed by coursework which is submitted for each module. Finished work and work in progress will be included. Illustrated and written presentations of your understanding of the work you have produced will also be submitted through a critical journal.
Special Features
Placements
As part of the Practice in a Professional Context module, students are supported in their development as professionals in the creative industries, through self-negotiated placements or internships in external organisations that will aid their careers on completion of the course.
Study facilities
We arrange a regular programme of talks and workshops by visiting national and international artists, for example:
Sally Alatalo (Sara Ranchouse), artist/publisher, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, USA
Dr Suze Adams, artist, UK
Frans Baake, artist, The Netherlands
Jan Davis, printmaker, Southern Cross University, Australia
Stephen Fowler, artist, UK
Carrie Galbraith, artist, Scuola Internazionale di Grafica in Venice, Italy/USA
Sue Gregor, artist, UK
Angela Gardner, poet / artist /publisher, NSW, Australia
Dr Douglas Holleley, author of Digital Book Design and Publishing, NY, USA
Tim Mosely, pulp-printer / artist, Southern Cross University, Australia
Otto, artist / illustrator, UK
John Risseeuw, printmaker, Arizona State University
Emma Stibbon, artist, UK
Tom Trusky, Hemingway Western Studies Center, Boise State University, USA
Free places at conferences, seminars symposia and workshops hosted by the Centre for Fine Print Research at UWE, are available for our postgraduate students. For a list of previous and forthcoming events you can visit the CFPR website
In addition exhibitions of work by students, staff and artists are held at Bower Ashton every month and students regularly have the opportunity to take part in workshops, exhibitions outside of the university, and exchanges with other institutions.
Careers/further study
Our students are taught by practicing artists and researchers, bringing skills and expertise available exclusively to those at Postgraduate level.
Many of our graduates enter or continue in the creative industries, employed in studios or on a self-employed freelance basis. For example: Spike Print Studio in Bristol, the largest open-access print studio in the South West, employs four of our alumni, including the studio manager. Other examples include Excelsus Solutions LLC in Rochester, New York and Chesapeake Ltd, Bristol.
Many graduates continue to exhibit regularly and practice as professional makers. For example: Lisa Sheppy's 'Charlotte's Dress' was made and selected for the 2010 British Glass Biennale, won the Glass Sellers Student Award, and was shown in a solo exhibition at The Brontë Parsonage Museum over winter 2010-11.
Some students also go on to study at Doctoral level or PGCE qualifications to enter a career in teaching in Schools, Colleges and Universities.
Students can also go on to employment through Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTP's). Sophie Adams-Foster is currently the KTP Research Associate in Innovation in Rapid Prototyping Technologies within the Creative Industries, here at the Centre for Fine Print Research. This Knowledge Transfer Partnership between Renishaw and the Centre for Fine Print Research at the University of the West of England seeks to explore the use of and application of Additive Layer Manufacturing techniques.
Alumni
Melissa Olen, Excelsus Solutions, LLC, Rochester, New York, USA - Is involved in commercial printing for display as well as prepress operation and colour management.
Jenny Smith, Artist - set up her own lasercutting studio running workshops in Edinburgh.
David Abbott, Director of Chesapeake LTD, Bristol, - collaborative and multidisciplinary creative studio working in the areas of graphic design, identity, website design & development and photography.
Imi Maufe - currently on a residency, Imi now lives and works as an artist in Bergen.
Mavina Baker, self-employed artist printmaker - runs professional workshops in woodcut, linocut printmaking and bookbinding techniques in Wiltshire. Mavina also organises art projects for schools and health care groups.
Angie Butler, self-employed artist and specialist student support worker at UWE, and Artists's Books Intern at CFPR - she also runs CPD courses in bookbinding and letterpress.
Marjorie Dumortier, freelance illustrator based in Bristol, with 5 books published.
Contemporary jeweller Sue Gregor, was profiled in Vogue (April 2011) - recently awarded Proof of Concept funding by UWE to explore the use of cutting edge laser equipment and techniques used by CFPR researchers and has been developing a new range of products working with Tom Sowden in the laser bureau.
Entry
Entry requirements
We are looking for highly motivated creative students from a range of art, media and design backgrounds. Usually applicants will have a first degree in the Visual Arts but those with other academic qualifications or professional experience are also encouraged to apply.
All applicants are carefully reviewed and are invited to attend an interview. You will be asked to bring with you examples of your creative work and a statement of intent.
There is no official closing date for postgraduate programmes and we accept applications throughout the year. If you are applying to organisations for funding they may have application deadlines by which time you will need to know if you have a place on a course. You should build this deadline into your application process and if you are working to a funding deadline then please let us know.
Overseas Applicants
A representative from the University makes regular visits to Brunei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan and is able to view portfolios and interview students.
The University also has representatives in a number of other countries. Please contact Admissions and International Recruitment for further details:
admissions@uwe.ac.uk
+44 (0)117 328 4716
If you are unable to meet up with a Bristol UWE visiting representative then please send us your application in the normal way. We will then contact you and advise you where and how to send us some samples of your creative work.
Fees
Full details of fees for this course can be found on our postgraduate fees pages.
For funding options, please see our funding and scholarship information.
How to apply
There is no official closing date and we accept applications throughout the year.
Applications for this course can be made by using the "Apply for this course link" within the "Next steps" box.
For further information
Page last updated 14 December 2011