Contemporary Art Practice

In December 2024, the University of Bolton was granted permission by the Office for Students (OfS) to change its name to the University of Greater Manchester with immediate effect. While we work to update our systems, you may see both names used in the information we provide.

Explore your creativity and experiment with drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, installation, performance, digital, digital 3D, video and sound art at the University of Greater Manchester. Our BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice course employs traditional fine art methods, processes, and theoretical frameworks for contemporary and ever-evolving public-facing contexts. You’ll create outward-facing work every semester and gain creative sector experience.

The University of Greater Manchester's BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice course supports you in developing professional creative practice ready to capture, analyse and challenge complex social and political issues. Our experienced staff are practising artists who will encourage you to explore themes and contexts in broader art history, allowing you to locate your practice in a historically informed contemporary context.

We offer a supportive environment where you can develop your creative skills and knowledge. Using our well-equipped workshops and dedicated studio space, our expert team will support you in developing outward-facing output in each semester of every level of study.

We'll help you develop technical skills in drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, ceramics, photography, installation, performance, digital, digital 3D, video and sound art, and new and emerging technologies. We embed relevant and appropriate strands of professional practice throughout each level, so you'll gain the knowledge and skills to curate, document, promote, market, and critique exhibitions of art.

We'll encourage you to explore public engagement strategies and use the University's excellent industry links. You'll have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with a range of industry specialists. Our tutors have a wealth of experience delivering contemporary art for public display. They will support you in building your portfolio, ready to deliver a professionally presented and industry-ready creative show in your final year.

Throughout the BA (Hons) Contemporary Art Practice, we'll nurture your curiosity and encourage you to become a socially engaged and community-facing contemporary artist who responds to current social-political issues and concerns. We'll focus on building your confidence from the very start. We'll help develop your self-belief so that you can make work for public engagement, interact with people outside of the studio through your art, and prepare you for a wide variety of careers. We aim for you to graduate with an inquisitive mind, the inclination to collaborate, and an expanded and broad transferable skillset.