Master's Programme in Fine Arts

The applicant must satisfy one of the following academic requirements

• Specialisation of a minimum of 80 credits in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, film or equivalent. At least 20 credits in the specialization unit must be level 2.
• Trained teacher (general teacher training, primary school teacher training, specialist teacher training, pre-school teacher training) with 60 credits in either, drama, art, crafts or music, or kindergarten teacher training with specialisation in arts.

The Master's Programme in Fine Arts provides knowledge, skills, and competence with an interdisciplinary perspective and with special emphasis on contemporary arts practices. The core of the study is the development of one's own artistic work within the areas of artistic development work, academic artistic research, and arts education, as well as at the intersection between these. The student can choose to have a subject-specific focus or to take an interdisciplinary approach throughout the study. The opportunity for professional specialization is also offered in the form of individual project work with subject matter guidance.

The course emphasises how the arts are included in a variety of social contexts and provides insight into diverse artistic processes theories and methodologies. In different contexts the students can explore different roles such as artist, researcher, curator, pedagogue/ teacher, producer etc. in order to subsequently create connections or to specialise in a single role. Students will be introduced to professional partners to work with in arts and culture. They will thereby have the opportunity to gain relevant practical experience and start building networks early. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on development of the ability to reflect critically and on varied modes of communication.

The master's programme in Fine Arts provides the opportunity to build on knowledge, skills and competency in music, theatre, dance, visual arts, and film / video. The study emphasises the connection between these subject areas, and on practical and theoretical explorations of interdisciplinary art forms, such as sound art, performance art, installation art, site-specific art and media art.

In the 1st semester students are offered the courses KF-408 Interdisciplinary Artistic Work and KF-407 Art and Context practical project work. These complement each another in terms of artistic and technical and organisational aspects, while the course KF-406 Concepts of Contemporary Art(s) will give the students insight into art history and theory. In KF-408 Interdisciplinary Artistic Work the students will collaborate in groups. In KF-407 Art and Context the students will collaborate with an external partner and will be brought into contact with arts and cultural institutions, arts practitioners, and an arts network. These can become collaborators for the 2nd semester project and/or later in conjunction with the master’s project. The arts history and theory teaching in KF-406 Concepts of Contemporary Art(s) emphasises the development of art since the beginning of the 20th century, informs a shared understanding across the subjects and creates a context for the practical and interdisciplinary work in KF-408 Interdisciplinary Artistic Work and KF-407 Art and Context.

In the 2nd semester theoretical, practical, and methodological applications and expansions will follow in KF-410 Art and Art Education, KF-409 Theories and Methods of Aesthetics and KF-411 Artistic Research. Each of these courses builds upon an element of the 1st semester; Art and Art Education builds on Art and Context, Theories and Methods of Aesthetics builds on Concepts of Contemporary Art(s) and Artistic Research builds on Interdisciplinary Artistic Work.

The courses in 2nd semester prepares the students for their Master’s Project. The Master’s project can comprise artistic work, an artistic research project, an arts education project, or a combination of these. The project can be realised either as a practice-based project with a presentation and reflective written element, or as a written dissertation. In every course during the other semesters the students will practice one of these options. They will learn ways in which to connect and combine these, while also familiarising themselves with practice-based projects and academic writing.

Students on the Master’s Programme in Fine Arts become part of the faculty’s various research groups.

After a completed programme, the candidate must:

KNOWLEDGE

• have in-depth knowledge of historical and current arts discourse and hypothesis as they relate to contemporary art, with both interdisciplinary and subject matter specific perspectives
• have in depth knowledge of a broad spectrum of artistic forms and methods
• have in-depth knowledge of a broad spectrum of arts theories and methodologies
• be able to apply key theories and methodologies to new aspects of the arts
• be able to analyse the role and function of art and the arts in different social and cultural contexts

SKILLS

• able to analyse and relate critically to different sources of information and use these to structure and formulate professional hypotheses
• be able to analyse existing theories, methodologies and interpretations within the arts and demonstrate a capacity for independently interrogating, evaluating and deploying practical and theoretical perspectives
• be able to apply different arts theories and methodologies to complete research in the arts, arts related dissemination and/ or artistic development
• be able to plan, complete and assess artistic development, research, and publication assignments in a social context
• be able to relate their own artistic practice to contemporary artistic practices
• be able to complete an independent arts project in line with existing research regulations/ethics, and norms

GENERAL COMPENTENCY

• be able to analyse relevant craft, professional and research related ethical questions and issues
• be able to develop and apply arts competency in different contexts
• be able to apply relevant skills and techniques in innovative projects
• be able to disseminate arts projects and relate arts techniques to a professional environment as well as the general public
• be able to contribute to new thinking and invention processes through interdisciplinary collaborative projects in and outside of the arts

Contemporary arts practices, and associated discourse are influenced by international perspectives, exchange, and collaboration. The programme therefore emphasises opportunities to gain experience in international contexts. The Institute collaborates with international networks and festivals, in and outside Kristiansand. Optional study trips are furthermore arranged, to give students the opportunity to see international art and participate in international arts projects and events. Artists and researchers who work internationally will be invited as guest teachers, to give workshops or lecture.

Across the courses part of the syllabus will be English. Course KF-406 Concepts of Contemporary Arts is exclusively taught in English.

Students will have the opportunity to study at an educational institution abroad in the second semester. Emphasis is placed on reaching good exchange agreements with universities outside Norway, which also open doors to bringing international exchange students to UiA. During this semester, students can choose what they want to study, and they are encouraged to choose subjects that make their education stand out from those who choose to complete their entire education at UiA. This way, they can use the exchange stay either to immerse themselves in a subject, or to develop their interdisciplinary perspective. Emphasis is placed on students being able to choose from educational institutions that have different profiles. Please see the university's website on exchange opportunities for further details.

To continue to year 2 of the study programme the student must have passed at least 30 credits in:

• 10 credits KF-406 Concepts of Contemporary Art(s)
• 10 credits KF-409 Theories and Methods of Aesthetics
• 10 credits from an optional alternative course from another semester. If the student studies abroad during the 2nd semester, corresponding courses will be approved.

Completion of the Master’s degree can qualify the student to continue to study at Ph.D. level at e.g. the Faculty of Fine Arts, UiA.

The programme provides competency for many different professions in the arts and arts institutions (e.g. theatre, museums, arts institutes, festivals), universities and higher education, the art world (e.g. independent work in the arts, galleries, art production, and arts management), arts administration (e.g. Arts Council Norway, Kulturtanken – ‘The cultural school bag’, local arts councils) arts schools, the general education system and after school programmes etc.

Combined with a teacher training (within music, drama/theatre or art) one can achieve requirements for a lecturer/associate professor within said specialisation. For candidates without teacher training a PPU is needed to fulfil official lecturer/associate professor requirements.