MA Art Education, Culture and Practice programme

IOE—Faculty of Education and Society at University College London MA Art Education, Culture and Practice.

This innovative MA provides a forum to explore and debate contemporary issues in the expanded field of art, culture and education. It is designed to enable students from different backgrounds to draw on both their experiences as educators and their practice in art, curation, design, art history and critical theory as a basis for research. In this way students are able to set up productive relationships between theory and practice and between academic study and professional experience. The MA challenges students to engage with art practice as a means to understand learning in and through art and culture. In addition to working with social science and humanities methodologies students are encouraged to explore the process of making not only as the object of educational research but as a mode of research in itself.

This programme is for anyone interested in the intersection of art and education with experience in both teaching and art practice. We invite applications from early years educators, primary and secondary school teachers, university and college lecturers, curators and freelance arts educators working in formal and informal educational contexts (local communities, galleries, hospitals, museums, prisons, etc). We also invite applications from practising artists working or planning to work in galleries, schools, universities and other educational sites.

Key issues addressed throughout the programme include access and inclusion, globalisation, materiality and embodiment, discourses of creativity, the ‘educational turn’ in curation, socially engaged practice, alternative educational models and digital, networked culture. Students undertake live projects in galleries and schools providing invaluable professional experience, and are introduced to a diverse network of local, regional and international organisations including contemporary art galleries, art colleges and alternative learning contexts.

Art education at IOE, UCL’s Faculty for Education and Society—the world-leading institution for Education (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025, for the twelfth year in a row)—has a long and distinguished history which can be traced back to the work of pioneering art educator Marion Richardson (1892-1946). Students enjoy the use of purpose-built studio space in a Grade Il listed building and benefit from being part of a wider community of PGCE, MA and doctoral students.

Globally, the programme’s alumni go on to be key influencers in the expanded field of art education. We are therefore looking for applicants with strong practical and theoretical interests in shaping art education for the 21st century.

To learn more join us for an online information session on May 8, 1pm BST: register here