Printmaking

MA Printmaking

Mode: Full-Time

Course Description
In the first term highly experienced technical instructors provide a five-week induction course in all the printmaking media. The main methods of teaching are individual tutorials, seminars, group tutorials, lectures and critical discussion of exhibited work. Regular academic staff are complemented by visiting artists, theorists and critics. Specialist workshops continue throughout the course tailored to the specific needs of students. The full-time course is five days a week for two years, the part-time route requires attendance three days per week over three years with full-time attendance for the first five weeks of the course.

Exhibitions and External Projects
Students exhibit in the College both in interim workin- progress and final Shows. The Hockney Gallery is available for student shows and an annual group show at The Café Gallery gives students space to experiment and exhibit externally. Projects which place print in non-gallery settings are encouraged, Platform for Art and Sadler’s Wells have recently collaborated on student projects.

Visits, Exchanges and Placements
Students are encouraged to travel during their time at the College. Opportunities available through the department include an exchange with the University of Calgary, Canada and a studio at Cité Université des Arts, Paris. All students are offered the chance of a short teaching placement in an art school. The department has an annual study trip. In 2007 this was to the Venice Biennale.

Critical & Historical Studies
As part of the experience of being at the RCA, all MA students, except those in the School of Humanities, attend a programme of lectures organised by the Department of Critical & Historical Studies during their first year at the College. This work culminates in the submission of a dissertation, which is a requirement for all MA students.

Professional Practice
The Printmaking Department supports career development by tailoring professional practice provision for students to the culture of the discipline. Prints are produced and published by distinguished artists for the Printmaking Appeal Fund which helps students with bursaries and materials. There is an annual print project which gives all students the experience of editioning work.

Information, training and advice on work and life skills are also available centrally through FuelRCA.

Entrance Requirements

• Students apply from all kinds of backgrounds, but generally having completed a BA degree. In recent years, people have come from fine art, printmaking, painting, sculpture, photo media, conservation, illustration, design, textiles, architecture and interactive arts courses.
• Whilst many students enter the course after years of independent work we also accept students directly from undergraduate courses.

Portfolio

• The work sent in should demonstrate actual and potential use of print media and should contain items that indicate the whole range of your creative interests.
• Candidates should send actual work. There is no fixed format since we understand that the form of the work will differ in each individual case.
• The portfolio may include works on paper, multiples, bookworks and showreel DVDs of moving image work (excerpts of individual work should be not more than 5 minutes in length). Documentation of installation/video/film work should be Mac formatted and clearly labelled. Images should be jpegs and not more than 1,500 pixels in any dimension.
• Overseas candidates may send CD/DVD applications but please state medium/dimensions/title and dates for all work.
• Notebooks and sketchbooks should be included as well as any other preparatory works.

Interview (if invited)

• You will be expected to talk about your own work and your personal creative ambitions.
• You should be able to demonstrate an original and critical approach to print-related practices as well as an ability to engage with relevant theories, content and contexts.
• You should bring to the interview work completed since the hand in of the portfolio, any work in progress, and relevant sketchbooks or preparatory materials. Overseas candidates will be expected to bring the actual work submitted on CD/DVD.