MA
Year in
Review
Reflecting on a year of MA work and student achievement during a global pandemic, a civil rights crisis and environmental emergency is no mean task. However, it is clear to say that our students have bravely captured the mise en scene that is unfolding around us. Across our entire portfolio of MA Courses students could have could have settled for safe and comfortable solutions, but many chose the harder route – to push themselves out of their comfort zone in order to create work that challenges, questions, reflects and responds to our times. As a community we always aim to produce creative work that is impactful and created with integrity.
We expect our Masters’ students to be critical and questioning in their bid to create high quality work – and these students have accepted this challenge. By examining complex problems and responding to them, these graduates can demonstrate their ability to pathfind – to lead. At NUA we are enterprising in all senses of the word and are delighted that so many students set up their own creative enterprises and studios during their Postgraduate Journey.
Our suite of Masters Courses reached No. 1 in the UK for Postgraduate Student Satisfaction for Art and Design* and that is testament to the expertise, support and leadership throughout the university, but in particular praise must go to the Subject Leaders who provide specialist guidance:
Dr. Rob Hillier – MA Communication Design
Dr. Caroline Fisher – MA Curation
Lucy Robertson – MA Fashion and MA Textile Design
Desmond Brett – MA Fine Art
Nigel Potter and George Beard – MA Games
Dr. Roter Su – MA Moving Image and Sound
Juneko Haga – MA Photography
Working across and between disciplines is a key strength of our MA programme and so a big thank you to the MA staff team who have motivated and inspired us:
Sarah Cameron
Professor Suzie Hanna
Louize Harries
Carla Mackinnon
Rob Nicol
John Small
Chloe Steele
Marina Velez Vago
We were delighted to welcome visiting guests to talk to our students including stylist and fashion editor Patty Cereijo; Composer Philip Herbert who created the moving Elegy: In Memoriam Stephen Lawrence; BAFTA Winner Akin Akinsiku and bio artist Anna Dumitriu; Comedian Rob Gee; Curator Gilly Fox from the Hayward Gallery to name just a few of the experts and specialists that have helped us from just about every field of the creative industries – we are really grateful for your expertise and we hope you can see your input in the work of the students.
We wish the students well as they progress their work beyond the MA.
Marie Brennan M.IDI FRSA
* Source: AdvanceHE Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey 2019