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Module

FIN8003 : Studio Work (Stage 2)

  • Offered for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Professor Richard Talbot
  • Lecturer: Dr Christian Mieves, Ms Jo Coupe, Professor Louise Wilson, Professor Uta Kogelsberger, Professor Jane Wilson, Ms Helen Smith
  • Owning School: Arts & Cultures
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 30
Semester 2 Credit Value: 60
Semester 3 Credit Value: 60
ECTS Credits: 75.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The emphasis in this module is to focus the student's thinking and creative potential towards the development of a coherent, well-articulated body of creative art developed through self-determined and self-directed creative practice. The module will support the production of a coherent, resolved body of work which demonstrates advanced creative, innovative and critical thinking and an increased awareness of contextual issues relating to this practice. The module will culminate in a public exhibition of professional quality (digital online or physical in gallery), developing an awareness of the roles assigned to artists in contemporary culture and providing a foundation for professional practice beyond the course of study.

Outline Of Syllabus

Individual tutorials with your supervisor will take place approximately every 4 weeks. You will also have the opportunity to see other Fine Art staff for surgery tutorials and attend the Visiting Speakers lectures and seminars in Semesters 1 and 2. The regular programme of group crits, workshops and seminars takes place in Semesters 1, 2 & 3. Semester 3 is focused on the completion and presentation (via digital portfolio or public exhibition) of a body of fully realised work.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials91:3013:30Visiting Speaker Programme: online lectures, SYNC
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion1217:30217:30Preparation for assessment.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture101:3015:00Visiting Speaker Programme: in-person lectures, PIP/SYNC
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading302:0060:00Directed independent research in relation to professional practice.
Guided Independent StudySkills practice307:30225:00Skills practice in relation to workshops.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching33:009:00Cross Year Crits. PIP/SYNC
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching101:0010:00Seminars including Visiting Speakers seminars, PIP/SYNC
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops38:0024:00Optional Technical workshops PIP/SYNC
Guided Independent StudyProject work1900:00900:00Creative practice
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesWorkshops22:004:00Documenting, Technical specs, Web/blog PIP/SYNC
Guided Independent StudyStudent-led group activity101:0010:00Planning exhibition meetings PIP/SYNC
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDissertation/project related supervision111:0011:00Individual Tutorials ( including 3 surgery tutorials). PIP/SYNC
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk11:001:00Intro to module. PIP/SYNC
Total1500:00
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

The module proceeds by means of a schedule of tutorials with the student’s practice-based tutor, group critiques, lectures from the Visiting Speakers’ Programme and a programme of practice-related and professional development seminars and workshops.

The module places emphasis on the production of a considered body of new-work. A programme of seminars, workshops and group crits support the development and critical evaluation of individual practice as well as encouraging students to identify the context in which they are working. The weekly programme of lectures, given by visiting artist, critics and curators provide examples of advanced professional /Fine art practice. Tutorials with the students supervisor, other Fine art staff and Visiting speakers will focus on the development of individual personal practice.

Also included is the regular upkeep of a ‘digital notebook/ sketchbook’ that records and reflects upon research, progress and outputs.

Tutorials facilitate the development of the student’s advanced understanding and skills in all aspects of their practice: organisational, developmental, formal, conceptual, technical, contextual and professional. They also nurture the student’s ability to evaluate and reflect, to articulate their ideas and debate issues relevant to their practice. Group critiques foster the student’s ability to reflect critically on their own work and that of others and to formulate reasoned responses to the views of others.

Elective skills-based workshops allow students to broaden their range of technical skills, exploring new means of making or developing an existing methodology. Students are also encouraged to choose from a range of discipline-specific Forums, which provide the space for conversations within a particular area of art practice, such as Painting, Performance or Film. These groups enable discussion around both technical skills and ideas/artists pertinent to the discipline, helping students situate their work within the context of contemporary practice.

The Visiting Speakers’ Programme extends the student’s awareness of the spectrum of Fine Art practice and the different ways in which theory might relate to and sustain practice. It also provides a wide range of examples of approaches to developing a practice and presenting and documenting artwork.

Scheduled teaching and learning activities such as workshops, demonstrations, individual tutorials and small group teaching will be conducted present in person in the Fine Art studios and workshops (or synchronous online if made necessary by Covid-19 restrictions). Where scheduled teaching and learning activities are delivered via non-synchronous online sessions they will be followed by a synchronous on-line drop-in Q&A session.

Teaching methods may be liable to adjustment in response to changes to Government and University advice in relation to Covid-19 restrictions.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Design/Creative proj3A100Public exhibition/presentation of the student’s creative art work + digital notebook and other related material.
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

In order to allow for development of a sustained body of work, students are assessed at the end of semester 3. Assessment will be via exhibition or digital portfolio that will focus on the physical and/or documentary evidence of the student’s creative practice supported by other written, contextual, research and reflective material. This enables assessment of the full range of a student’s engagement with the module in relation to: sound research and developmental methods: technical processes and materials; identification of subject matter; formal and conceptual considerations; contextual understanding; independent planning, management and direction of their practice; critical self-reflection and professional practice. It will show the basis and development of a viable and effective creative practice and its capacity to develop a body of art work towards resolution.

Students present their work for assessment at the end of semester 3 in a publicly presented MFA Show (typically in the Hatton Gallery and Fine Art studios, online if made necessary by Covid-19 restrictions or similar) plus a submission of a digital notebook and other related material.

Reading Lists

Timetable