Programming for Artists

Short credit-bearing course that can lead to MA in Professional Media Practice

This course is ideal for artists who wish to pursue their own creative goals with confidence and knowledge. Rather than assuming you already understand technical language or mathematical formulas, it provides an introduction to the core structures and content of programming. After this course you will have a greater understanding of program design and implementation, including interaction and image manipulation, and the ability to develop your own original programs using current professional techniques and software.

This is part of a new range of Skillset short courses, providing continuing professional development and offering postgraduate credits towards an award. They can be taken individually or in combination with a tailored selection of other courses across the Skillset Media Academy Network to achieve a recognised qualification, ranging from a Postgraduate Certificate to a Masters degree.

Key content

Learning will be centred around the latest developments in computer art. Using Java and Processing (a version of Java modified for artists), this course will provide you with the tools to design and develop your own project. It will draw on your own experiences in the working environment and you will be able to direct a portion of your study to key issues relevant to your practice, in negotiation with the tutor and others. Generic themes will include:

•     Drawing basic shapes, applying transformations, custom colours
•     Making Applets/applications
•     Image manipulation, blurs, edge detection and others
•     Strings, matching, manipulating
•     GUIs
•     Algorithms – what are they?
•     Digital Collage project
•     Interaction – mouse and keyboard, Buttons, sliders
•     Sound and animation, inc starting to use midi and synthesis
•     Generating documentation and Jars
•     Basics of SQL and database querying,
•     Getting started with mobile phone programming

Course delivery

This course is delivered one sesson a week over a 10-week period. During this time, you will explore a specific area of interest with a range of like-minded media professionals and input from academics and industry guest lecturers. You will also have the opportunity to develop your knowledge further with supported online study during which you will take part in a variety of online exercises, forums and projects. These activities can easily fit around your current professional work.

You will have the option of undertaking an assignment/project and on its successful completion will gain 15 Master’s level credits. If you go on to participate in and pass more of our courses you can accrue credits towards a Postgraduate Certificate, a Postgraduate Diploma or a Master’s.

Course tutor

Your course will be delivered by Dr Eleanor Dare, a programming artist holding an MSc (with distinction) in Arts Computing, as well as a PhD in Arts and Computational Technology and was reputedly the first fine artist to recieve a full doctoral studentship from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Further industry practitioners will be brought in as guest speakers.

When, where and how much?

This course begins on 12 May 2012 and runs on Saturday mornings between 10 - 1 for 10 weeks, with additional supported online study. You will have access to a Virtual Learning Environment and social networking software enabling team working, peer support and mentoring from industry professionals. The course is delivered at Goldsmiths, University of London in New Cross, south London. Find out how to get here.

The course fee is £600.

Who should take this course?

This course is ideal for anyone who wishes to deepen their knowledge of computing by learning the fundamentals of programming. Although no previous experience of programming is required, the course assumes some knowledge of basic web page creation.

Entry requirements

This course is open to media professionals with an undergraduate degree and the required work experience in a relevant industry (normally a minimum of two years); and to non-graduates with significant and relevant work experience (normally 10 years) who can demonstrate an ability to both complete and benefit from the course. Please contact us if you have queries about your eligibility.

How to apply

Applications for short courses can be made electronically or by post/fax using this application form.

For further information, contact Libby Tuson at l.tuson@gold.ac.uk