Public Art and Performance – MA

Why study this course?

The Public Art and Performance MA prepares artists and art professionals for the increasing demand in the sector to develop publicly interactive, performative and immersive work.

This MA degree course encourages a practical and industry-minded approach to exploring how contemporary art experiences engage with the public. It runs collaborations with national and international art organisations, which so far have included: Tate Modern, City of London Corporation, Artichoke, the ICA, Ca’ Pesaro in Venice, RMIT in Melbourne, Museum of Public Space in Bologna and The Monument to the Great Fire of London. This MA programme is one of the founding members of the International Masters Network for Art in Public Space, developing links with leading masters in this area, across the world. The course also enjoys a unique connection with CREATURE (London Met’s own research centre for Creative Arts, Cultures and Engagement), particularly with its strand Public-Face: through this, our MA graduates are invited to continue to be part of our thriving research community.

The course is designed to develop career paths for artists, curators and facilitators interested in any creative medium (visual art, performance, video, installation, sculpture and digital art), with a specific focus on developing public-facing projects.

More about this course

During this course, you’ll take a detailed look at the performative relationship between artworks and their viewers/participants, whilst developing new interdisciplinary projects in this respect.

With public engagement at the core of current programming by art institutions worldwide, museums and galleries are increasingly experimenting with innovative ways to make the public directly involved in their experiences. Funding bodies like Arts Council England demand that their supported artists and institutions champion inclusivity and audience engagement. Joining this master’s programme is your chance to be at the forefront of this movement.

This course places a strong emphasis on the idea that all public art can be seen as performative, regardless of the disciplines an artwork entails. The ideas of public work and performativity will therefore represent interdisciplinary stimuli for a variety of tasks and topics.  

In the autumn and spring terms you’ll follow the module Public Art and Performative Practices, which will provide an overall artistic and conceptual path for your learning. With regular visits to London art galleries, you’ll have the chance to explore the artistic and cultural potential of developing public art works, as well as making professional contacts in the process. Practical projects and workshops in studio will complement these, enabling you to creatively test the ideas you have explored.

The Research for Practice module will support you through this creative journey, helping you develop your research awareness and providing you with a greater understanding of the implications of developing methodologies and academic inquiries. In turn, this will inform your artistic perspectives with theoretical and methodological rigour.

The above modules are complemented by two Professional Focus units. In the autumn term, Professional Focus 1: Public Art Funding and Commissions  will give you inside knowledge into aspects of public art such as fundraising, searching for commissions and promoting yourself as an artist / art professional.

The spring term will see you delve into the logistic implications of public art experiences as you undertake Professional Focus 2: Project Managing Public Art,. Here, you’ll explore best practice in project management and learn technical skills, including risk assessing, public liability, access and inclusivity.

All four modules will inform your final project during the summer term.

Accreditation of Prior Learning

Any university-level qualifications or relevant experience you gain prior to starting university could count towards your course.

Modular structure

The modules listed below are for the academic year 2022/23 and represent the course modules at this time. Modules and module details (including, but not limited to, location and time) are subject to change over time.

Year 1 modules include:

Professional Focus 1: Public Art, Funding and Commissioning (core, 20 credits)

Professional Focus 2: Project Managing Public Art (core, 20 credits)

Project as Professional Practice (core, 60 credits)

Public Art and Performative Practices (core, 40 credits)

Research for Practice (core, 40 credits)

Where this course can take you

Build your knowledge of the art world and discover careers in a growing field within the industry. Career opportunities include:

1. professional artists, whose work explores the idea of public engagement, communicated in any medium, including visual art and performance
2. performance practitioners, exploring audience interaction and participation
3. project leaders and facilitators in the field of public engagement, working creatively with teams and partners
4. managers and administrators in public art, outreach and participation
5. curators of public programmes and events
6. academics and communicators in the field of public art and public engagement