Visual Arts and Post-Contemporary Practice

Who is welcome to apply?

Visual artists with an interest in social-, relational-, (post)conceptual practice and digital culture, photographers, filmmakers, visual storytellers, curators, philosophers, anthropologists, artist collectives.

What are we providing?

During this two-year Master programme, students from various disciplines develop practice-led and process orientated artistic research that is supported by research-led teaching.

In an interdisciplinary learning environment, students have the opportunity to develop independent and collaborative research projects. Through a theoretically informed, critical and reflexive approach, students develop and evaluate their practice in a peer-to-peer context.

We offer a research environment that connects cultural studies, visual and digital cultures and we invite students to generate strategies and speculative as well as materialist praxes that might expand the social and aesthetic sensorium of society. Students are stimulated to re-envision artistic engagement through an open ended and creative process.

The aim of the programme is to enable starting artists to develop intellectual and practical skills and the confidence to do what every new generation of artists has to do: to redefine their practice and their role in relation to society.

The Master Institute of Visual Cultures is a locally grounded international community of learning and research. The programme offers dedicated Master studio spaces. We are developing sustainable methods of art production, such as the use of non-toxic oil paints and awareness of waste. Our outstanding workshop and technical facilities, including techlab - VR/AR and interactive media - and access to workshops across film & photography, print, wood, ceramics, metal - allow students to immerse themselves in innovative artistic development projects, and are supported by a team of experienced staff on hand. 

Programme Specification
Duration of study: 24 months (4 semesters)
Mode of study: Full-time
Award: Master of Fine Art and Design
Credits: 120
Awarding institution: Avans University of Applied Sciences
Board of studies: St. Joost School of Art and Design

We offer students a unique interdisciplinary (taught, research and knowledge exchange) programme of art & design activities, fostering key areas of research and scholarship in a much broader spectrum of art and design practices, while at the same time building a bridge with science and technology. Across all our pathways, practice and theory are co-taught, encouraging knowledge generation in relation to current social issues and civic urgencies that are relevant today, where the value of creativity, agency and critical production is understood as key for social change. 

The interdisciplinary curriculum across the MA FAD offers students flexibility, as well as a fixed programme of mandatory courses and elective modules that are shared across our MA pathways in Situated Design, Visual Arts and Post-Contemporary Practice and Ecology Futures. Fixed elements are: Independent Studio Practice, General Academic Studies (GAS), Professional Practice and Research Seminars (pathway specific). Flexible elements allow students to design their own curriculum through: Elective Modules, Tutorials (one-to-one and group), Skills Based Workshops, Lectures, Excursions and Group Critiques. Residencies, Internships, PhD preparatory trajectory and Caradt Research Fellowships offer students the possibility to broaden the spectrum of their personal curriculum choices. 

Learning Tracks

The learning track of each semester of the MA FAD programme is as follows:
Semester 1 Context & Skills Learning
Semester 2 Co-research and External Enquiry in the Field
Semester 3 Consolidation of Practice-led Research
Semester 4 Graduation Phase

Units of study

MA FAD pathways are delivered across twenty-four months, comprised of 4 semesters and 6 units of study. Each unit ends with an assessment (either summative or formative) correlated to adhering learning outcomes.

Good to know

FAQ
Finance
Research
Study in the Netherlands

Admissions

The MIVC has effective arrangements in place for managing the quality of information provided for potential applicants. The MIVC proactively supports transition to master education and is responsive to individual needs. Support is given by the Head, Pathway leaders, the coordinator and programme producer.

See more about admission

Professional future

We are living through one of the most exceptional of times. Students will learn not only how to respond to the current challenges and opportunities, but also how to shape this new reality. 

Your studies will take place within a broad community of Master’s students from many different backgrounds. Engaging with people from all over the world in the interdisciplinary environment will enrich your practice and allow you to build a unique support network of peers and professionals. 

The programme maintains strong connections to key institutions in the Netherlands and abroad including V2_Lab for Unstable Media Rotterdam, Impakt Festival Utrecht, Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) Den Bosch, Playgrounds Festival, Breda Photo, NoordBrabants Museum Den Bosch, Eye Research Lab Amsterdam.