Fine Art and Theatre (Placement Year)

The Fine Art and Theatre course at Lancaster offers a unique opportunity to explore and develop the diverse dialogues that exist between these two disciplines in ways that enhance and extend our understanding of both. You will develop a deeper understanding of fine art materials, techniques, and processes while exploring the historical, theoretical, and performative territories shared by fine art and theatre.

Bridging practice and theory, this course also enables you to develop your artistic voice through innovative theatre projects. Lancaster is a hub of art and cultural activity, offering you the opportunity to join a thriving creative community.

Why study Fine Art and Theatre at Lancaster?

• Choose a course that expertly combines practical skills with contextual knowledge, giving you a strong understanding of contemporary ideas, art movements and 21st century theatre

• Benefit from a forward-thinking curriculum that is firmly based on the skills and knowledge that will be needed in the theatre and art industry in years to come

• Tailor your studies by specialising in your chosen area of theatre such as acting, scenography, scriptwriting, directing or applied and community performance

How will I develop my skills in Fine Art at Lancaster?

Fine Art at Lancaster is about finding your voice and deciding what matters to you in today’s art landscape. With engaging seminars in art history and theory, we’ll support you in shaping your values and understanding the evolving role of art.

You will broaden your understanding of contemporary Fine Art via hands-on projects, technical demonstrations and skills-based workshops. Experiment with painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, video, digital art, and their many hybrids.

Gaining experience of working to a brief is important. Recent Fine Art graduates have secured commissions with digital arts organisations such as FACT Liverpool and Future Everything, and rewarding roles at galleries such as Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art, Art Gene, and Home, and companies such as International Conservation Services, Science Museum National Collections Centre, Holocaust Centre North, ITV, United Colours of Benetton India, and The National Festival of Making.

What will I study in Theatre?

Focussing on the emerging trends and innovations of 21st-century theatre and performance, we will teach you the building blocks of performance making, whilst supporting your ability to develop highly creative, challenging and impactful work.

You will collaborate with others to create original performance projects spanning multiple genres, from intermedial theatre to naturalism and applied theatre. You will frequently work in professional theatre venues, including the Nuffield Theatre on the University campus.

You might choose to focus on acting, playwriting, scenography or directing. You may see yourself behind the scenes, managing productions from start to finish or creating sound, video and lighting concepts.

What opportunities are there outside the course?

You will have opportunities to attend workshops with professional artists and theatre practitioners, exhibit your own art, participate in community-based theatre projects and go on various field trips.

As professional artists, your Fine Art tutors bring a wealth of experience in exhibiting, curating and writing across a range of art and ideas, including high profile residencies and commissions in museums, galleries and cultural industries worldwide.

Your Placement Year
Sometimes known as a year in industry, your placement year will take place between your second and final year of study and this will extend your degree to four years. You'll spend your third year in a paid, graduate-level position, where you’ll work for between nine and twelve months in the type of role that you might be considering for after you graduate.