BA (Hons) Fine Art with Professional Placement Bachelor's degree at Falmouth University

A focus on co-creation and collaborative peer learning, you'll develop a range of ways to think about, self-initiate, and develop your artistic practice. You'll undertake technical workshops and inductions and explore ambitious ideas – testing boundaries, taking risks, experimenting and making meaning. You'll also be introduced to a range of contemporary and historical art practices, cultural issues, debates, and contexts.

You'll benefit from the combined expertise of both our Fine Art and Drawing courses. Through lectures and group discussions surrounding contemporary and historical art contexts, developments and debates, you'll develop a self-reflective approach to studio practice. You'll also be introduced to academic writing and research conventions. Through this, you'll develop your own critical analysis skills and learn to communicate your ideas professionally and effectively.

You'll strengthen your understanding of what it means to have and maintain an independent artistic practice. You'll explore methods for practice-based research to identify connections between sources, underpin your practice with rich source material and develop conceptual themes for your work. You'll also look at how your practice fits within the professional industry and construct a collaborative group exhibition – exploring different modes of display and audience experience.

Part two of the Practice in Context module, where you'll have access to expertise across Falmouth School of Art. You'll be introduced to a range of themes and trends that have shaped contemporary artistic practices, such as socially engaged practices and recent philosophical shifts in the role and value of artistic production. You'll also engage with a greater range of academic source material and strategies for analysing, researching, and writing about art.

You'll establish themes in your practice and gain an understanding of how your work interacts with a range of professional and theoretical contexts. Working in both the studio and technical workshops, you'll develop a new body of work focusing on process, material investigation and technical experimentation. You'll also explore how to identify themes and contexts that emerge from thinking through making and how you 'tell the story' of your practice and research, situated in real-world contexts.

You'll be introduced to discussions on a range of diverse themes in contemporary art. You'll look at the histories that have given rise to certain works and the ideas informing them, questioning the choices that artists make and how artists orientate themselves on the constantly shifting grounds of contemporary art.

You'll begin generating a portfolio of research. You'll be introduced to core research methodologies and contemporary critical research practices. You'll also learn and then apply methods for planning and organising your research. Additionally, you'll explore a range of strategies for undertaking critical reading, and experimental, creative modes of writing.

Working in exhibition planning groups, you'll identify and work towards a live context for your current practice. Each group will contribute to planning and preparing a public-facing arts festival and the group curation of your practice.

You'll challenge and test established conventions within your practice. The emphasis will be on experimentation and risk through the practical business of making. Through a combination of seminars, tutorials and peer review you will articulate and receive critical feedback on your work. You will curate a body of work into an organised portfolio with a supporting artist statement.

Through challenge and exploration, you'll begin to understand and mobilise research as an integral aspect of practice, culminating in a set of outputs distinctive to your own critical concerns.

You'll build an entrepreneurial skillset by engaging with public contexts as a dynamic material within your practice. You'll also be required to identify the relevant audiences, platforms and tools for the dissemination of your practice and research in relation to your career goals.

This module is a culmination of the skills, knowledge and understanding you have accumulated over three years of study. You'll be expected to challenge and finesse your practice, with your degree show exhibition showcasing your accomplishments to a wider audience. You'll also be required to liaise with your cohort to collectively organise, curate and promote an exciting exhibition.

You'll consider things like curation, the catalogue, planning and delivering a show – and what to carry forward beyond university. You'll be required to thoroughly document the planning, investigation and development of your chosen project, reflect on and evaluate your own professional development and initiate industry connections and explore opportunities for your career.

You'll begin your foundation year by working collaboratively with others to explore themes of the future. You'll take risks, experiment through play and be supported to break through barriers.

You'll take subject-specific workshops and develop essential technical and practical skills in your area of study. You'll also enhance your analytical and organisational abilities.

You'll enhance your creative and practical skills in your subject specialism by responding to typical industry briefs, underpinned by focused research and experiments. You'll also gain industry insights through guest lectures and workshops.

You'll develop your unique identity in your specialism through the production of a self-initiated body of work. Your final project will be the bridge to your next year, fully supported by evaluative reviews and critical analysis of the work you have created.