M.A (Creative Arts: Producing and Curation)

Course Overview

This is a one-year full time Master’s program. It defines creative producing as the practice of realising an artistic vision by putting in place the practical steps needed to deliver that vision to an audience—whether the work is in the performing arts, literature, visual arts, or an interdisciplinary area. It sees curation as the assembly and delivery of artistic experiences for audiences, whether those experiences are in the form of arts collections, digital objects on a website, or a programme of performances in a festival (among other possibilities). The programme runs these two strands throughout the academic year, ensuring students have well balanced skills in these two overlapping areas. You will also gain hands-on skills in writing about the arts and your work for public audiences.  This programme also includes a module on career development in which you carry out an internship with an arts organisation and participate in the Galway International Arts Festival’s SELECTED Programme, a bespoke programme that gives you the unique opportunity to see how Ireland’s major annual cultural event is put together. The MA programme concludes with a practice-based dissertation in which students will produce and/or curate an original artistic event for an audience and write a long reflective essay that explores the preparation for and impact of that event. 

Aims

•  Develop skills needed to successfully run creative arts events and careers. 
• Equip students to reflect upon and analyse the processes, policies and challenges faced within the creative arts.
•  Enhance students’ skills in research, communication, and innovative thinking.
•  Provide professional experience and networking opportunities through internships, placement with partner oganisations such as Galway International Arts Festival, and public-facing projects.

Learning outcomes

On successfully completing this programme, students will be able to: 

• Critique key concepts and debates relating to producing and curating in the creative arts
•  Employ a range of learnt skills in the areas of event management, networking, exhibiting, promotion, leadership, group project management, and applying for funding.
•  Understand and implement working structures, processes and policies relating to producing and curating.
•  Plan, develop and complete an independent practice as research project in producing and/or curating. 

Scholarships available