Whitecliffe Master of Fine Arts students experience intelligent discussion, rigorous critique, and high-quality encounters with exceptional artists, curators, writers, and arts professionals from New Zealand and overseas, graduating with the skills to become leaders in their chosen field.

 

Master of Fine Arts Course Outline

The Master of Fine Arts is a full-time, two-year (year one at level 8, year two at level 9), low-residency programme enabling enrolled artists to live and work anywhere in New Zealand. Designed around four, week-long seminars per year, the programme is delivered by faculty and guests that are nationally and internationally respected artists, critics, writers, and curators. According to their interests and proposed direction of study, students are assigned two supervisors to support their studio practice as it develops from Semester to Semester in order to best support their direction and research throughout the programme.

The MFA programme prepares artists for a professional career working within a diverse field of contemporary art practices across local and international contexts. The interdisciplinary structure and philosophy support artists in understanding how art and artworks operate in the world, and through regular critique, supervisory guidance, seminar participation, and a focus on exhibition and publication practice assists them to develop their individual approach to practice and research.

 

Programme Structure

The Master of Fine Arts programme is built around a comprehensive programme of supervised studio research and contextual studies requiring self-directed learning and continuing professional development. The principal aim is for students to extend their established creative capacity, develop critical skills, and foster a mature understanding of the relationships between their work and contemporary culture. The intensive format of the seminars is structured around themed discussions, guest artist presentations, exhibition visits, and studio critique.

Intensive, week-long seminars are held four times annually at the Symonds Street, Auckland campus. By completion of the MFA students will present:

• An oral presentation in the final semester outlining their studio and contextual research direction
• A blog site showcasing analysis of influential modes of practice and critical debate
• A printed catalogue containing critical essays and photographic evidence of key projects
• A final public exhibition of works contributing to their chosen field of practice

 

Final Exhibition

The final Master of Fine Arts exhibition, attended by artists, art dealers, critics, curators, and other arts professionals, is the most significant event in the programme - the point at which an international or national artist or critic helps the internal panel assess each student's research on its sophistication, critical awareness, and professionalism. It is the springboard for our new graduates to move on from the educational sphere to life as professional artists.

 

Life After a Master of Fine Arts

Many of our graduates have gone on to be successful exhibiting artists, both in New Zealand and overseas. However, a Fine Arts degree also prepares graduates for a wide range of careers, giving them essential skills for the modern job market: the ability to think creatively and flexibly; to work independently or collaboratively; to respond constructively to criticism, and to participate in intelligent debate. Our emphasis on business skills - such as budgeting, marketing, career management, and public relations - also prepares graduates for self-employment or to engage in a range of creative industries.