BA (Hons) Visual Arts
- International students can apply
- Overseas study available
- Work placement opportunity
Graduates have gone on to pursue careers as artists, lecturers, teachers, arts officers, curators, gallery education officers, university/college instructor/demonstrators and gallerists. Our students are self-motivated self-starters and many have gone on to forge their own businesses in a variety of fields.
Not all our graduates go on to pursue a career as an artist, though many will pursue careers in the arts. The visual arts course encourages an approach to learning that emphasises resourcefulness, initiative and creativity – transferable skills that enable our graduates to thrive in whatever career path they choose to follow. An art school offers an educative experience like no other and an artist requires self-discipline, project management skills and an ability to work with others. All these skills are developed here in the department during the course of study. An art education also offers a culturally enriching experience and a portal which can lead to a myriad of other interests.
In recent years our graduates have achieved notable successes in exhibiting both regionally, nationally and further afield in Europe. Students have exhibited their work in Limousin, France; The Independents; Liverpool Biennale; The Urbis, Manchester; The Holden Gallery, Manchester; Bankley House Studios Gallery, Manchester; The Chapman Gallery, Salford; Waterside Arts Centre, Sale and the Curwen Gallery, London.
Other graduates go on to work as art educators in schools, colleges and universities, curators for galleries and museums, and art therapists.
Industry Links
This course invites artists and arts professionals to visit and deliver presentations to our undergraduate and postgraduate students. Most recently they have included Helmut Lemke, sound artist; Klaus-dieter Michel, new media; Max Eastley, sound artist; Louise Brookes, interventionist; Andrew Bracey, painter; Karen Heald, video; Rob Williams, sculptor; Kevin Phillips, painter; Natalie De Brey, interdisciplinary practice; Claus Van Bebber, sound artist; Rob Gawthrop, sound artist; Tim Birch, curator; and Anne Grebby, painter.
We also take advantage of the artists in residency scheme AA2A (Artists Access to Art College). The scheme allows artists to share our resources and make work on/off site. Importantly for students, the asset of the scheme means that we have practising artists on-site, integrating with our students. They are selected with diversity in mind thus offering a range of activities that support our student development. The artists also provide talks and studio workshops.