Public Art

About the course

The course is taught by practitioners with extensive experience in the field of public art. In addition to studio work, you will learn through lectures, field trips, seminars, presentations, group work, tutorials and independent study.

There are regular talks by guest speakers who work in the field of public art, either as artists or as developers/commissioners of artwork for public spaces.

The University has excellent facilities for different creative media including fully equipped woodwork and metalwork areas; a ceramics studio workshop and casting and resin facilities; a digital studio with video and digital cameras available for your use; a design studio with the latest design software, 3D imaging software, printer and large scale inkjet printing facilities; and a large fine art studio space.

Technicians for the different media work in the school to provide practical support and advice.

What you will learn

The course will give you the opportunity to enhance your practical and creative skills as a practicing artist. You will also broaden your understanding of the context, function and perception of public art and consider the wider social and political issues of creating art for the public domain.

You will learn about the practical issues of creating public art including financial and business factors; health and safety; planning and regulatory requirements and dealing with committees and organisations responsible for commissioning public art.

You will also develop your wider skills such as critical reasoning, conceptual thinking, time management, teamwork, initiative and independent study.

Special features

• Because of the open nature of the fine art studio, you will have the opportunity to apply a multi-disciplinary approach to your work, making use of the high level facilities available within the studio set-up.

• The fine art department has established strong links with a number of arts organisations and groups within the region, including Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council, Bolton At Home, Queens Park and Bolton Landscape Department, Bolton Schools Liaison Network, Bolton Museum and Art Gallery, Hospital Arts, and a large number of private organisations who regularly commission our students.

• Students from the related undergraduate programmes have successfully set up three large studio groups in the region, and studio spaces are available for students to rent in these studios at very reasonable rates. Two new contemporary art galleries have also been set up by our students in the past three years.

• The department has also set up an undergraduate programme in Fine Art in Athens, and students from the programme have an opportunity to spend some time at the art school in the centre of this historic city.

Careers and professional development

Study on the MA in Public Art will support your development as a practitioner of public art. It will also support related careers such as working in the field of commissioning and developing public art, for example in housing organisations and the public sector.

You may also use the qualification to support a career teaching in the arts or as the basis for continued study at a higher level.

On graduation you will automatically become a member of the University's alumni association, gaining access to a wide range of university facilities, including libraries, journals and periodicals as well as professional and employment advice, throughout your career.

Mode of attendance: Part-time