BA (Hons) Fine Art

Program Overview

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The BA (Hons) Fine Art program at the University of Sunderland fosters students' artistic perspectives and creativity through a diverse range of practices. With a focus on collaboration, live projects, and professional development, graduates emerge as well-prepared artists with strong portfolios and a deep understanding of the contemporary art world.

Program Outline

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Degree Overview

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Overview

The BA (Hons) Fine Art course at the University of Sunderland helps you develop your own perspective and ideas within contemporary art. You will explore your creative interests across a broad range of Fine Art practice, working collaboratively with peers and professional artists in the artist community. By the end of the program, you will be a well-prepared graduate with a strong portfolio of work to impress potential employers.

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Objectives

• Develop your own perspective and ideas within contemporary art.

• Explore your creative interests across a broad range of Fine Art practice.

• Work collaboratively with peers and professional artists.

• Graduate well prepared with a strong portfolio of work.

• Become a creative professional in the growing creative industries.

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Description

This course is rooted in a rich tradition of art at the University of Sunderland, combined with modern teaching methods and a focus on innovation. The program features a team of working artists with extensive professional experience and subject expertise to guide you in realizing your artistic aspirations. You will have the freedom to explore your creative interests across a range of Fine Art practices:

• Painting
• Printmaking
• Digital photography
• Film
• Sound
• Drawing
• Sculpture
• Performance
You will learn to see the bigger picture and develop highly adaptable skills in collaboration with your peers. Throughout the course, you will work towards live outcomes, building your confidence as an artist to promote yourself, your art, and your impact on society.

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Outline

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Program Content

The program covers a wide range of topics and areas within Fine Art, including:

• Studio and Show
• Fine Art Making Skills
• Contemporary Approaches to Drawing
• Fine Art Histories and Ideas
• Fine Art Methodology
• Fine Art in Society
• Art in Society: Theory and Context
• Collaborative Creativity
• Practice, Publication, Pitch
• Fine Art Exhibition
• Dissertation, Theory and Application

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Program Structure

The BA (Hons) Fine Art course is a three-year program divided into six semesters. The first year focuses on exploration and experimentation with different art practices. The second year involves collaboration with students from other disciplines and exploring the social context of your art. The final year is dedicated to refining your professional practice and skills in preparation for your final exhibition and graduation.

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Course Schedule

The course schedule varies depending on the semester and year of study. However, you can expect a combination of lectures, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and studio practice sessions. You will be allocated your own studio space from day one, where you can build and develop your creativity alongside fellow students.

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Individual Modules

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Year 1 (National Level 4)

• Studio and Show (40 credits): Develop your personal studio Fine Art practice in various mediums, including painting, drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and digital subjects.
Work collaboratively with peers to organize and promote your Fine Art Year 1 public show.
• Fine Art Making Skills (40 credits): Learn core Fine Art practical skills in painting, printmaking, digital photography, sound, and sculpture through a series of set projects.
Engage with health and safety inductions regarding materials and sustainability.
• Contemporary Approaches to Drawing (20 credits): Explore drawing principles through structured projects, including drawing both two and three dimensionally, and digitally.
Engage with traditional, diverse, and contemporary approaches to drawing, using a wide range of ideas, materials, and working methods.
• Fine Art Histories and Ideas (20 credits): Learn about key art movements and ideas that shaped the world culturally.
Examine themes including Symbolism, Expression, Surrealism, and Abstraction.

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Year 2 (National Level 5)

• Fine Art Methodology (40 credits): Consider the form and appropriateness of the medium for your ideas, choose from Fine Art's wide portfolio of subjects, and experiment.
Benefit from workshops and learn about professional routes for art graduates.
• Fine Art in Society (40 credits): Develop your studio practice towards a live exhibition open to the public, learn how to install, curate and advertise your exhibition, and manage a budget.
Alternatively, research and present a proposal for a socially engaged arts project with a supporting body of artwork.
• Art in Society: Theory and Context (20 credits): Understand how Fine Art practices are shaped by and help shape historical, social, cultural, and political issues.
Explore key contemporary debates around inclusivity, diversity, ethics, and sustainability.
• Collaborative Creativity (20 credits): Prepare for real-world and live collaborative creative projects.
Build your work experience, network, and broaden your understanding of graduate opportunities, creative enterprise, and career pathways.

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Final Year (National Level 6)

• Practice, Publication, Pitch (40 credits): Focus on the research and production of an advanced, self-negotiated project with a professional focus.
Prepare your practice for future exhibitions, arts-related, and wider professional applications. Develop your career practice and benefit from seminars, application and funding advice, and information on postgraduate studies.
• Fine Art Exhibition (60 credits): Take advantage of an intensive period of studio practice to realize and complete your individual project.
Participate in a critically selected solo exhibition presented for both your final degree assessment and the public degree show exhibition audience. Learn to make work that effectively communicates your ideas to an audience.
• Dissertation, Theory and Application (20 credits): Select your research topic related to Fine Art or visual culture relevant to your practical work.
Demonstrate your research by either written dissertation or a document outlining your Fine Art research practice.

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Assessment

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Assessment Methods

Assessment methods vary depending on the module and may include:

• Studio presentations of artwork
• A variety of written projects
• Exhibitions
• Group projects
• Live outcomes
• Self-directed research
• Critical analysis
• Portfolios

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Assessment Criteria

Your work will be assessed based on criteria such as:

• Originality
• Creativity
• Technical proficiency
• Conceptual understanding
• Critical thinking
• Communication skills
• Research skills
• Professionalism
• Impact

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Teaching

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Teaching Methods

The program uses a variety of teaching methods to cater to different learning styles, including:

• Lectures
• Seminars
• Workshops
• Tutorials
• Studio practice
• Independent study
• Guest lectures
• Live projects
• Collaborative projects
• Field trips

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Faculty

The faculty comprises experienced artists, researchers, and educators who are passionate about sharing their knowledge and expertise with students. They bring a wealth of professional experience and industry connections to the program.

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Unique Approaches

• Focus on individual studio practice and development.

• Emphasis on real-world and live projects.

• Opportunities for collaboration and networking.

• Strong links to the creative industries.

• Access to excellent facilities and resources.

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Careers

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Career Paths

Graduates of the BA (Hons) Fine Art program have a wide range of career options, including:

• Artist
• Curator
• Gallerist
• Arts administrator
• Teacher
• Researcher
• Writer
• Critic
• Cultural worker
• Entrepreneur
• Freelancer

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Career Opportunities

Graduates can find employment in a variety of sectors, including:

• Art galleries and museums
• Art dealerships
• Auction houses
• Arts organizations
• Cultural institutions
• Educational institutions
• Private businesses
• Freelance practice

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Career Outcomes

The program prepares graduates with the skills and knowledge to succeed in their chosen careers. Graduates have gone on to work in various prestigious institutions and organizations, and some have established successful careers as practicing artists.

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Other

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Studio Space

Each student will be allocated their own generous-sized studio space in the Priestman Building. This space is yours to develop and build your creativity, and you can access it throughout your studies.

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Additional Project and Exhibition Spaces

In addition to your studio, you will have access to additional project and exhibition spaces for paintings, prints, sculptures, digital installations, and performance work. These spaces provide opportunities to test your ideas outside of your studio space in a discursive learning environment. These include:

• Shaun Project Space
• Gallery 007
• Priestman Gallery

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Workshops and Facilities

You will have access to excellently equipped workshops in various disciplines:

• Printmaking
• 3D Printing
• Digital Photography
• Digital Sewing and Embroidery
• Woodwork
• Metalwork
• Casting
You can also use FabLab on City Campus for additional resources.

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The annual, full-time fee for this course is: £9,250 if you are from the UK/Europe £16,000 if you are an international student (EU nationals will receive a £5,750 scholarship to reduce their fee to £10,250) Tuition fees for part-time students are £6,935 per 120 credits. Please note that part-time courses are not available to international students who require a Student visa to study in the UK.

• The discounted fee will be reflected in your offer letter.
Learn more in our Help and Advice article.