Art & Ecology

Course Overview

The two-year Master of Fine Arts (MFA) provides an immersive education in the development of professional practice as an ecologically oriented artist while the one-year MA provides a masters-level education in art appropriate for a diverse range of applications.



Students on both programmes produce a final exhibition of both personal and collaborative work, which will demonstrate the skills necessary to survive and thrive as practising artists. Students will also demonstrate capabilities for critical enquiry through fine art, with the ability to evaluate their work through an informed grasp of the social, cultural and theoretical concerns shaping the discourse on contemporary art and ecological issues.



MFA students will also propose and implement an achievable, interdisciplinary collaborative project that engages with ecological/environmental concerns in the Burren or on a global scale.



Studio research provides for the development of artistic practice alongside students in the MFA/MA Studio Art. These modules provide for studio-based investigation and experimentation leading to the production of a substantial body of work. Theory and Art and Ecology engages with historical and contemporary discourses informing arts practice and ecological issues. In the first year an Introduction to Ecosystem Science provides an understanding of the operation of ecosystems through lectures and first-hand experience of the Burren. This is extended in Ecology and Sustainability in the Burren, which examines the stewardship of the area as a microcosm of environmental and ecological issues. Professional Studies modules are taken with the MFA/MA Studio Art students and focus on the development of professional skills necessary to survive and thrive as an artist.



For further scholarship information please visit www.burrencollege.ie

Studio Research provides for the development of artistic practice alongside students of the MFA/MA in Studio Art. These modules provide for studio-based experimentation and innovation, leading to the production of a substantial body of work.



Studio Methodologies are a series of taught studio courses examining the methodology of Art & Ecology with reference to historical examples.



Theory and Art & Ecology consists of seminars contextualising the theoretical framework of Art & Ecology.



In addition, Environmental Studies draws on expertise from within the College of Science at University of Galway in engaging with scientific approaches to ecology, with the first module led by an environmental scientist.



Lectures and field trips provide first-hand experience of the Burren as a microcosm of environmental and ecological issues, while a distance-learning module examines the social and political context of global environmental issues.



Curriculum Information

Curriculum information relates to the current academic year (in most cases).

Course and module offerings and details may be subject to change.



Please see course webpage above for module details.

Applicants should normally have a Bachelor’s degree with First or upper Second Class Honours in Fine Art; or a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Fine Art, with a GPA of 3.50 or above, or evidence of equivalent achievement. In the case of an outstanding portfolio, a Bachelor’s Degree with a lower Second Class/2.2 hons/GPA 3.0 may be accepted. All eligible applicants are interviewed either in person or by phone.



Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Applicants who do not meet the minimum programme entry criteria are encouraged to contact Burren College of Art to discuss eligibility under the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. Such applicants may be interviewed to ascertain their suitability for the programme. Recognition of Prior Learning for module exemptions is not available on this programme due to external professional accreditation requirements.

Closing Date: Apply by 1 February 2024: applications will continue to be considered on a rolling review.



Apply online via the Burren College of Art: www.burrencollege.ie

1 year (3 semesters), full-time (MA)

2 years (4 semesters), full-time (MFA)

1 year (2 semesters), full-time (Post Baccalaureate HDip)

Next start date: September 2025

Career Opportunities

Graduate artists find work in related fields, such as art curating, gallery administration and art education. The knowledge, skills and understanding developed in this programme are transferable to a wide variety of applications, depending on the individual graduate.