This interdisciplinary programme has been designed to enable you to develop your individual and collaborative artistic practices, computational skills, and conceptual framework so that you can participate in shaping the use and understanding of new technologies and cultural practices at the highest level.

The MFA is a studio-based programme underpinned by the necessary technical, theoretical and historical background, allowing you to mediate between the worlds of visual, performing and relational (or interactive) art, technology and computer science. The MFA is taught through the Goldsmiths Digital Studios.

Between Years 1 and 2 you may have the opportunity to work with the Université Paris 8, the Universitat de València, and the Athens Academy of Fine Arts. This is an Erasmus funded exchange covering flights, most food and accommodation, and is available on an annual basis until 2013.

What you study

Year 1

Year 1 shares the same core learning as our MA in Computational Arts programme: 

Programming for Artists
This course provides you with the tools you will need to creatively apply programing skills to your own practice. It encourages a practical and theoretical engagement with computer programming. Visits from guest speakers and student-led discussions will encourage and enhance your critical awareness of the issues surrounding computer art. During the course you will be expected to undertake small-scale programming projects.

Creative Technologies & Art Practices: Rethinking Curating
To better understand the relevance of current art practices employing new technologies, we begin this course by situating such art in an (art) historical context. We will consider how art after new media re-thinks curatorial strategies that are often difficult to classify according to previous museological canons and geographies. Some (eg Graham & Cook, 2010) argue that work involving interactivity, networks and computation is often about process and behaviour rather than objects. How do these issues impact on what you do and how your work is disseminated to the public?

Workshops in Creative Coding
This course aims to offer you the opportunity to develop skills in applied audiovisual computing through a series of workshops and project sessions. The topics delivered cover creative software development in C/C++, and audio and graphics programming for embedded systems (iPhone and iPad).

Electives
A number of optional courses are available on a variety of interdisciplinary topics such as artificial intelligence, computer vision, audio engineering, physical computing, animation and cognition. 

Year 2

In Year 2 you will continue to selectively tailor your learning experience and educational objectives. A specially designed MFA 'mentor class' will pair you with an eminent artist/designer/writer/curator. The mentors are selected from individuals who have continually broken new ground and sustained a creative, critical and strongly conceptual practice in their specialist area. Some of the current mentors include Andrew Shoben, Jane Prophet, Irini Papadimitriou (digital programme, V&A), Furtherfield and other visiting artists appropriate to your practices.

Assessment

In Year 2 you will be assessed by: self-evaluation report of 2,500 words; essay of up to 6,000 words; viva voce; exhibition of final work.

Careers

The programme equips students with a broad training in the use of creative computing systems that are currently most important in artistic, design and cultural practices and the creative industries, as well as technologies that are yet to emerge.

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.