Fine Art with Contemporary Cultural Theory

From the start of the course, you are encouraged to find your own direction as an artist. You’ll have the chance to work across all fine art media with on-site facilities for digital media, painting, photography, printmaking and 3D processes.

You'll split your time equally between studio practice and the theory and analysis of culture. You'll also gain professional skills as you develop and exhibit your work every year. You’ll take field trips to exhibitions, galleries and fine art fairs and combine lectures with group seminar sessions to discuss contemporary art practice, which you can use to inform your own creative work.

In year 1, you'll build your knowledge of art and culture and use various media to develop your own creative portfolio. Compulsory and optional modules will introduce key themes and interpretive methods, consider the nature of cultural analysis, and examine the relationships between art, culture and society.

In year 2, you'll build upon and critically apply the knowledge and skills learned in year 1 and further pursue your own interests. Compulsory modules will deepen your understanding of the complex relationship between visual cultures, history and society, and encourage you to think conceptually about art and cultural objects and practices. You will also continue to develop your portfolio.

Year 3 balances studio work with researching and writing a dissertation – an independent piece of research on a topic of your choice, which can either complement your studio practice or focus on a topic arising from your theoretical study. You can choose to take a smaller dissertation and select one further optional module on an aspect of cultural theory.

Towards the end of the year you’ll display your studio work in a public degree show, applying your artistic and professional skills to interact with external agencies, the media and sponsors.

Course structure

These are typical modules/components studied and may change from time to time. Read more in our Terms and conditions.

Modules Year 1

Compulsory modules

• Introduction to Cultural Analysis 1 20 credits
• Introduction to Cultural Analysis II 20 credits
• Introduction to Studio Work 30 credits
• Studio Work 2 30 credits

Optional modules

• Cultural History 20 credits
• Cinema and Media History 20 credits

Year 2

Compulsory modules

• Studio Work 60 credits
• Keywords 20 credits

Optional modules

• The New York School 20 credits
• Cinema and Culture 20 credits
• Seeing in Asia 20 credits
• The Art Market: Moments, Methodologies, Meanings 20 credits

Year 3

Compulsory modules

• Dissertation 40 credits
• Studio Work 60 credits

Optional modules

• From Trauma to Cultural Memory: The Unfinished Business of Representation and the Holocaust 20 credits
• Cultural Diversity in Museum and Material Culture - Case Study 20 credits
• Africa and the Atlantic World: History, Historiography and the Visual Arts 20 credits
• Movies, Migrants and Diasporas 20 credits

For more information on typical modules, read Fine Art with Contemporary Cultural Theory BA in the course catalogue

Broadening your academic horizons

At Leeds we want you to benefit from the depth and breadth of the University's expertise, to prepare you for success in an ever-changing and challenging world. This course gives you the opportunity to broaden your learning by studying discovery modules. Find out more on the Broadening webpages.

Learning and teaching.

Studio tutors are practising artists, writers and curators who are contributing to national and international exhibitions and publications. Read the staff biographies on the School website to find out more.

This course combines studio, exhibition and curatorial work with lectures, seminars, screenings, tutorials, workshops and visits. You’ll also have the chance to enhance your learning by attending talks by visiting artists and speakers, as well as attending workshops, exhibition openings, conferences and other events.

Independent study is a vital element of this degree, allowing you to develop your creativity and build important skills in areas such as research, analysis and interpretation. In the upper years, we encourage you to carry out small research projects on your own or in student teams