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MFA in Art Writing

MFA Art Writing is a programme for practitioners who want to develop work that addresses art as writing, writing as art, and writing about art – with the aim of encouraging and debating diverse potentials in the new field of contemporary art writing.

Student comment:
"My time at Goldsmiths equipped me with the necessary tools and professional connections for progressing further with my life as an artist. In particular, MFA Art Writing taught me new ways of thinking about the way I produce and conceptualise my work. I continue to practise as an artist and writer, working predominantly with performance. I have recently delivered performances at: The Freud Museum London, Wysing Arts Centre, ICA London, Tenderpixel Gallery, Zabludowicz Collection, Hayward Concrete Café, The Mews Project Space, Spike Island, and Flat Time House."

Patrick, MFA in Art Writing (graduated 2010)

Length:
2 years full-time, or 4 years part-time, or 3 years combined full-time and part-time.
Applying:

Due to the popularity of this programme we ask you for a deposit of £450 to secure any offer made to you after applying for the programme. The deposit will be credited against your tuition fees when you enrol.

Application deadline: Thursday 1 December for entry the following September; we may consider late applications if there are vacancies. You should not normally expect to receive a decision until the end of March. 

Please enclose with your application your recent work in an appropriately documented form. Please supply publications, written work and/or CDs/DVDs (these must be Mac compatible) as appropriate to your work. All materials must be clearly labelled with a covering inventory of contents. Please ensure that all materials are securely packaged and clearly labelled with your name and address; Goldsmiths can't accept responsibility for any loss or damage. Please see Returning your work.

Admission is normally by interview and portfolio inspection. We may ask international (non-EU) students who can't attend for interview to supply additional examples of their work.

Find out more about applying

Entrance requirements:

Applicants for Part One (diploma stage): an undergraduate degree of at least second class (or international equivalent) plus element of professional experience (developing self-generated projects, independent practice, publication etc).

Applicants for entry directly onto Part Two of the programme for either full-time or part-time routes must show through interview and, where appropriate, portfolio that they have established a professional practice in the field and have already fulfilled the criteria demanded at the end of Part One of the programme through professional experience.

If your first language is not English, you normally need a minimum score of 7.0 in IELTS (including 7.0 in the written element) or equivalent. Find out more about our English Language requirements.

Fees:
Please see Tuition fees.
Further information:

Why not visit one of our Postgraduate Art Open Days? You can also visit our Exhibitions and Events Archive

Contact the department:
Contact Maria Fusco
About the department:
Art

Download a booklet [PDF, 837KB]


This unique programme is expansive in its approach to contemporary art writing, and is supported by the appointment of three new Professors – Yve Lomax, Michael Newman and Adrian Rifkin, together with the Director of Art Writing, Maria Fusco.

Practical exploration will be contextualised through critical and analytical seminars in which art writing, as an intrinsic element of contemporary art production and its distribution, is debated.

The programme draws on the international scope of contemporary art practice at Goldsmiths, and in London, and extends through practical exploration the interplay of artworks and art writing in innovative ways.

What you study

The programme is divided into two parts – Part One (diploma stage; one year full-time) and Part Two (MA stage; can be taken either full-time or, where appropriate, part-time [one academic year followed by one calendar year]).

Students who successfully complete Part One proceed to Part Two. You may be able to enter the programme directly onto Part Two if you have relevant professional experience.

We are pleased to offer graduating students a new award, The Book Works Award for Art Writing.

MFA Art Writing has collaborated with a number of well-known institutions including:

  • Anti-Design Festival
  • Art on the Underground
  • Book Works
  • Centre for Creative Collaboration
  • Chisenhale Gallery
  • David Roberts Art Foundation
  • FormContent Gallery
  • ICA
  • London Words Festival
  • Resonance FM
  • South London Gallery
  • Spike Island
  • Tate Britain
  • Whitechapel Gallery
  • 176 Project Space

To see collaborative work produced by current and previous MFA Art Writing students please visit:

Recent guest speakers and tutors have included:

  • Ed Atkins
  • Federico Campagna
  • Duncan Campbell
  • Neil Chapman
  • Diedrich Diedrichsen
  • information as material
  • Leslie Dick
  • Chris Kraus
  • Bruno Latour
  • Stewart Home
  • Patricia MacCormack
  • Nathaniel Mellors
  • Hato Press
  • Elizabeth Price
  • Mark Prince
  • Hayley Newman
  • Sally O'Reilly
  • Denise Riley
  • Jennifer Teets
  • Sarah Tripp
  • Sue Tompkins

Skills

You'll develop written, verbal, critical and analytical skills to professional and academic standard.

Careers

Suitable careers for graduates of the programme include:

  • independent artist
  • writer
  • academic
  • critic
  • art production work
  • exhibition work
  • art distribution

Student insight

"Joining the MFA in Art Writing was crucial for me to further examine the implications of writing in the shaping of my research.

One of the main aspects I’ve explored and enhanced during my two years at Goldsmiths is in fact my inclination for research and the way it reflects into writing, and how the two affect each other.

I can now look at the various disciplines and languages that inform my work, and bring them within writing as a format which allows me to reflect critically and experientially on each of them."

Daniela, MFA Art Writing

Register your interest

If you register your interest in this programme we will keep you informed about open days and send you relevant further information. If you subsequently decide to apply for this programme you will be able to use the same login details to apply.


Goldsmiths, University of London, New Cross, London, SE14 6NW, UK
Telephone: + 44 (0)20 7919 7171

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