Fine Art BA (Hons)

University of Reading

Further develop your practical skills and explore new and emerging art forms. Be stimulated by our internationally respected staff and take part in a wide variety of exhibitions and events both here and abroad with BA Fine Art.

Designed for students joining from art access courses, including art foundation, you'll have the opportunity to build on your practical skills and explore the theory and history of art at Reading School of Art.

You will benefit from our distinct approach to the subject, combining practice, theory and history – especially in contemporary art. You can experiment with a range of subjects and media, exploring painting, sculpture (such as welding and casting), printmaking, as well as digital media.

Our studios are a creative, lively and stimulating environment in which to develop the skills you have already acquired. You will receive a dedicated space with access 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is always a high level of activity in the studios with events, screenings, performances and exhibitions taking place regularly. A student-run gallery and experimental project spaces are also available for you to explore.

We focus heavily on exhibitions, and regular field trips to national and international museums, art institutions and galleries will give you the chance to consider the diverse conditions in which art is created, displayed and received. You will gain professional experience by taking part in your own exhibitions, public art commissions and events. Open debate and constructive criticism are actively encouraged and you will openly discuss your work with peers and teaching staff.

You will be assigned a studio tutor and focus on developing your individual and professional practice, working towards your final project and dissertation in the third year. Placements and collaborations are actively encouraged and there is also the chance to experience life in another country. Throughout your degree you will receive advice and guidance in career development.

Placement

You are encouraged to work with different artists and designers in hosting events and exhibitions. External exhibitions have included Urban Utopia, a partnership between Fine Art and Deutsche Bank where 35 students curated their work in the new Capitol building, Bracknell, and an exhibition at the Beaconsfield Gallery in London.

You are also expected to undertake placement opportunities. Past students have enjoyed internships at Studio Voltaire and Frieze Art Fair. Others have performed at the ICA, taken part in an Arts Council-supported film project at the Museum of English Rural Life and participated in an international exhibition at the Seoul Institute of Arts in South Korea.

Regular field trips to national and international museums, art institutions and galleries allow you to consider the diverse conditions in which art is displayed and received. There are also many opportunities for you to apply to study abroad: Reading School of Art has links with universities in countries such as the USA, Canada, Australia, Taiwan, France, Switzerland and Finland.