This well-established, vibrant course enables students to develop appropriate skills and knowledge to work creatively with people.
The course is offered over two or three years. Students can also study one module for CPD. It is suited to both those who are new to the field or experienced practitioners. New graduates can build confidence while learning concrete ways forward to forming positive and fruitful relationships within their communities. Established practitioners can improve their ways of working by giving themselves time to refresh, re-evaluate and recalibrate their practice as they gain deeper understanding of their skills and qualities, achievements and aspirations.
The programme is designed to be delivered remotely. Artists develop their projects within their locale and join live seminars, tutorials and virtual student spaces from anywhere in the world. Their learning experience is enriched by working with students who live in different contexts. To date students are based in Scotland, North America, Europe and the rest of the UK.
The course takes full advantage of virtual tools to facilitate networking among practitioners in the field, regionally, nationally and internationally, including bringing them into the programme. Students meet guest speakers from all over the world, including the Mentors they choose in the final stage of the programme. The annual Virtual Symposium is international and also provides opportunity to meet with MA students in the field from other countries and contexts.
The course provides a supportive and vibrant community of practice. Taking part in this MA programme offers a new peer network of diverse practitioners that can open new doors, expand horizons and provide mutual support that is crucial within a new context of learning and discovery.
The programme is distinctive for core theoretical studies drawn from social anthropology. Students also learn to interrogate their practice in relation to theories, concepts and critical debates that characterise social practices. Each module addresses different skillsets and bodies of knowledge and understanding, including reflective and ethical engagement.
The programme benefits from being located in the Centre for Island Creativity, Shetland UHI, whose research bring firsthand experience of living and working in small and/or geographically remote communities.
For further information, please contact roxane.permar@uhi.ac.uk (Roxane Permar), call 01595 771 100 or visit https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/courses/ma-art-and-social-practice/
