MA Field trip - Arts, Aesthetics and Cultural Institutions and Philosophy
We were delighted to report on the first field trip organised by the Philosophy Department and the School of Arts for MA students, which was such a great success!
Taking advantage of the beautiful weather, we visited Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the leading international centre for sculpture, which celebrates 40 years of ‘art without walls’, and the Hepworth Wakefield, with its remarkable collection of one of Britain’s most important twentieth century artists.
In addition to the permanent collections, students particularly enjoyed Chiharu Shiota’s work at YSP and Anthony McCall’s first major UK exhibition at the Hepworth.
Yiota Vassilopoulou, Director of the MA in Arts, Aesthetics and Cultural Institutions, said “this was a great opportunity to engage with works by so many modern and contemporary artists, and enhance learning through valuable interactions with gallery and museum staff, who very kindly shared their insightful knowledge and experience with us.”
Commenting on the experience, students remarked: “Great initiative to do more site-specific exploration; this was a great opportunity to see art from outside Liverpool and to take education outside of the University”; “it was very interesting to learn how a gallery site uses it's surroundings in architectural planning, and the unique ways it engages the local community—lovey spending time with everyone!”
When asked for advice on a career in the arts, assistant curator Dr Hilary Floe, who guided us trough the history and collections of the Hepworth, said: "There are many routes into curating, reflected in the diverse pathways of my curator colleagues: I studied art history from undergraduate level through to a collaborative PhD between a university and an art gallery; other colleagues have backgrounds in literature, philosophy and performance. Volunteering in museums and galleries is a very important first step when embarking on a career in the arts, so the offer of placements in your MA programme is a real strength."
The MA in Arts Aesthetics and Cultural Institutions, is an exciting interdisciplinary master's programme that combines philosophical aesthetics, art theory and hands-on experience in galleries and museums. It is specifically designed to equip students with the competence and understanding to equally pursue upon completion, either a doctorate programme in the Arts and Humanities, or a professional career in the cultural sector.
