Art History and Contemporary Craft - BA (Hons)

Liverpool Hope University

As the UK city with more museums and galleries than any other outside of London, alongside the country’s largest contemporary art biennial, Liverpool will provide a vibrant cultural backdrop for your studies. Utilising Hope’s exclusive partnership with Tate, visiting speakers from the creative industries, students gain a wide-ranging understanding of theoretical perspectives in Art History and how these are expressed through the workings of cultural organisations. Through our cultural partnerships and collaborations, students will be offered privileged access to important collections in Liverpool and experts working in the field.Encompassing the study of visual and material artefacts, museum and gallery practices and the production and circulation of meaning around art and design. This degree provides a systematic understanding of art and design practices and theories with a strong emphasis on critical thinking.In your second and third years, you will also take ‘Professional Practice for Art History’. These courses take in exhibition planning and design, curatorial practices and educational activities. These components address pathways into the creative industries and address the range of roles today’s cultural organisations demand – equipping students with the skills and knowledge necessary to secure future professional opportunities.The BA Contemporary Craft Major is centred around the practice of designing and making combined with the exploration of materials, primarily in ceramic, metal and textile.In the material workshops we celebrate tactility, materiality and haptic technologies, seeking less conventional notions of craft through material exploration and project design. Creating and making gives us the confidence to take risks, the ability to solve problems and builds a sense of identity. Alongside developing individually focused work the course will seek to explore key research emerging within society, exploring challenging issues including climate change, mental health diversity. The course will be theoretically underpinned by a series of lectures and seminars to inform research and practice. A strong focus on employability and real-world scenarios will enable contemporary craft graduates to move confidently into diverse fields of practice and work opportunities. Graduates will be confident in forging links with local industries and harnessing the creative energy of the North West. Professional expertise, digital exploration and contextual studies support the creative practice to provide a rich and exciting major.

Combined Programmes