MA Applied Arts and Social Practice
With growing interest in applied arts and social practice and increasing career opportunities , this MA will allow students to graduate with a better understanding of how artists , theatre practitioners and other creatives apply their skills in social contexts , third sector organisations , public health , social welfare , education and criminal justice . At the same time , it will give them the practical and enterprise skills to develop a sustainable career in their chosen field .
The combination of modules on this MA makes it unique in Scotland , and the flexible study options and diverse curriculum make it particularly suitable if you are already working in the sector or wish to do so when studying .
The Applied Arts and Social Practice programme focuses on the applied use of creative activities .
The purpose of the MA Applied Arts and Social Practice postgraduate degree is to provide students with the necessary knowledge , skills and experience to best prepare them for applying the arts and creativity to areas such as third-sector organisations , public health , social welfare , education or criminal justice . It also aims to provide students with the enterprise skills to establish and market themselves as applied arts practitioners in a professional context .
The current team ’ s expertise stems from community arts , applied theatre and socially engaged practice , and we define applied art as ‘ creative processes and skills that are applied to a specific purpose or function .’ This could include any creative practice ( such as theatre , art , music , dance or puppetry , just to name a few ) that does not exist in traditional spaces ( such as museums , theatres or galleries ) but rather is based alongside and with individuals and communities in the public domain .
You may find the course particularly suitable if you have already worked within social practice and want to broaden your understanding of your professional social practice . It also works well for people with significant workplace experience who want to gain a formal qualification in a flexible manner . The course is also suitable for recent graduates of fine , contemporary or performing arts courses especially those who have developed a set of artistic skills and want to learn how to apply them to projects in a social context .
Over the past three decades within the UK , there has been a significant and sustained growth of the arts within a social context . Indeed , the current draft Cultural Strategy in Scotland looks at embedding artistic and creative practices across numerous sectors , inviting artists , theatre makers , musicians and all creative practitioners to be productive within industry , business , education and social settings .
Concurrently , the arts are becoming more important within health and wellbeing contexts and the recent national report ‘ Creative Health : Arts for Health and Wellbeing ’ calls for artists to play a vital role in the social health and well-being of the population to the extent that GPs in England can prescribe artistic activities in order to tackle social issues such as obesity , loneliness and depression . This MA will provide qualified students to service the growing demand for this type of creative practice .
Structure
To obtain a specific postgraduate award at QMU you must complete a number of credit-bearing modules . You can opt to study for the full MA , a PgDip or a PgCert . You can also register as an associate student to complete individual modules on a standalone CPD basis . Credits can subsequently be applied to a higher award .
Teaching , learning and assessment
Teaching comprises a stimulating combination of lectures , seminars , workshops , tutorials , case studies , simulation exercises , field trips and projects , as well as a period of practicebased learning . Assessment throughout the course will take a variety of forms , including essays , reports , exams , group and individual presentations , as well as a practice-based dissertation for the final MA component .
Teaching hours and attendance
Your specific timetable will depend on whether you are studying full-time , part-time or an individual module . Each module involves approximately 25 hours of face-to-face teaching . This will be a mixture of weekly classes combined with a series of intensive study days , as well as the possibility of some field trips outside of regular teaching time . Timetables are normally available around one month before you commence your studies .
Industry links
Teaching staff have extensive professional experience and networks to draw from including local and national bodies . Our location in Edinburgh also means rapid access to a variety of communities and arts organisations to work with , as well as the opportunity to travel further afield across Scotland and the UK due to our excellent travel connections .
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