BA Fine Art

The BA (Hons) Fine Art degree course provides you with a broad range of learning experiences, stimulating the development of your technical, creative, research, analytical and communication skills as well as the practical aspects of installing exhibitions and engaging with your audience.

You work within a personal studio space where most of your teaching will take place. Tutorials, group critiques, seminars and open-studio sessions encourage you to negotiate your own particular approach to fine art through three areas of practice: painting, sculpture and print/new media. This multidisciplinary approach introduces you to a range of subject techniques as you explore your own creative direction. These include drawing, painting, performance, object making, photography, installation, etching, screenprint, wood construction, metalwork, modelling, carving, mould making, casting, sound and video.

The academic staff – all practising artists – offer historical and contemporary support concerning fine art, from which you develop an understanding of the context within which you work. These are augmented by guest lectures delivered by major artists, critics and theorists of national and international standing. Recent examples include artists such as Julian Stallabrass, Hamish Fulton, Ryan Mosley and Doug Fishbone.

Speakers are also invited for lectures and seminars covering business and professional skills to round out your education and prepare you for entering the real-world art industry. These are supported by extensive student shows and opportunities to create and exhibit.

Your future

Through live projects, exhibition participation, lectures/seminars by creative industry specialists and use of professional formats such as Academic Poster Presentations, this course provides a platform for you to launch yourself into the art world, pursuing either artistic practice or further study.

Graduates have gone on to show at art events around the world, recently including Zoo Art Fair (London), Liverpool Biennial and British Shorts Film Festival (Berlin), and secure residencies such as the Salem Art Works residencies (New York). Those choosing to take up employment have taken up posts in galleries, schools and colleges, studios and workshops, publishing and arts administration.

The course has developed strong links with leading galleries including MOT International and Gasworks Gallery (London), firstsite (Colchester) and Wysing Arts (Cambridge). A highly beneficial relationship with Outpost Gallery (an internationally recognised artist-run space) sees many graduates take up space in its studio complex, with 10 in 2010 continuing their practice at Outpost.

NUCA's MA Fine Art and MA Curation courses provide a natural route into continued academic development.