Master of Arts in Social Practice & the Creative Environment (Level 9)

Course details

This unique programme is designed to fulfil student demand from art, design and related fields, nationally and internationally. This is a one year full-time/two year part-time taught MA programme, multidisciplinary in nature which focuses on the growing area of social practice. This MA is distinctive in that:

• It is focused on Social Practice
• It is delivered through theory and practice
• It is open to practitioners of art and design
• It is also open to experienced graduates outside the art and design fields.

The course offers you a strong theoretical and critical grounding in the area of social practice, equips you with appropriate research skills, educates you in the roles you will play within communities/ situations/spaces, and ultimately, offers you a deep level of authentic experience and situated learning through the delivery and documentation of your self-chosen social practice project.The programme is delivered by both LSAD staff and a varied range of visiting lecturer specialists through an exciting mix of active learning, field research and engagement in the wider world.

Social Practice is located in the overlap of art, society and politics. It has been described as art activism, critical art, socially engaged art, social practice art, activism, political art, participatory, dialogical or collaborative art. MA SPACE invites candidates from Art, Design and other related fields who are interested in creating art that addresses topics such as; Space and Place, Food Politics, Gender Politics, Ecology, Climate Change, environmental politics, Science and Art, Civil Rights, Globalization and Economics, Health, Trans-Global Movement, Labour and Land Politics.

Modules

Module 1

The course is composed of 5 modules: Commentaries – Critical Grounding, Taking a Position. This module introduces you to the critical thinking underpinning contemporary art and design practice and its relationship to social and cultural issues.

Module 2

Transactions, Roles and Research. This looks at the different roles, ethical and logistical responsibilities involved in social practice.

Module 3

Practice - Analyse, Contextualise, Assimilate. Delivered by guest lecturers, this looks at case studies of art and design practitioners with a focus on social engagement.

Module 4

Social Practice: Major Project. An exciting opportunity for you to engage with a community/situation/space and deliver an art/design project

Module 5

Documentation: Critical Reflection and Evaluation of Major Project.

Initially the course leads you through the critical and theoretical frameworks current in the field of social practice. Semester One is designed to fuel your practice by providing the context for engagement in a variety of professional social contexts. You will meet key artists, designers, policy makers, agencies and brokers of public situations, who will put forward models of best practice. The second stage of the course places you as a practitioner working in your chosen area of interest; you will undertake a project, which is your main focus of reflection and documentation.