Professional Certificate in Creative Approaches to Archives
This Professional Certificate has been designed for practicing artists as well as designers, research students and third level teachers who have an interest in the archive’s creative potential. It also provides excellent training for anyone planning to undertake an MRes or a PhD.
Course Code - AD486PC-1
Dates - 20 Jan 2025 - 3 Mar 2025 (Mondays 2-5pm)
Credits - 5 ECTS
NFQ Level -
What to Expect
An investigation of the creative potential of documents and other archival records for artists
The archive has become an important site of artistic enquiry over the last decade with compelling artworks being created in and with archives. Archives have provided resources for artists to engage with major historical themes as well as the question of who has been ignored or forgotten in this important zone of public memory. The archival exhibition now forms a mainstay of programming in arts institutions. Counter-archives are also in formation, often to contest lacunae in understanding.
In this series of classes, you will have opportunities to explore practical, conceptual and ethical issues raised by endeavour of making art in the archive. You will debate the merits of different artistic and curatorial practices and you will meet archivists who are charged with making materials in their care accessible.
Taught by Dr Sarah Pierce, an artist whose own practice is a substantial engagement with archives, this course will familiarize students with key archives in Dublin including NIVAL, the National Irish Visual Arts Library housed at NCAD.
Timetable
Classes will be focused on different aspects of creative practice in the archive from the creation of archives by artists to the use of community resources. The course will have a strong emphasis on collaboration and engagement with archival (both official and unofficial) materials.
Participants will write two texts for in-class ‘crits’. In this way, they will not only test their writing skills but also act as an editor for other writers in the class.
Duration: 6 x 3h classes – from 20 January to 3 March 2025 inclusive
Monday afternoons, 2-5pm.
Format: onsite at NCAD and other venues in Dublin. Not available remotely.
Educational Standard
All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements for admission may be considered on the basis of a recognition of previous learning whether based on prior relevant experience or other relevant credited or non credited or learning (RPL). In such cases each applicant will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on a review of the applicant’s CV and other supporting documentation.
Please contact ncad@creativefutures.ie for further information.
Qualifying Examination – In certain cases the academic team may choose to set a qualifying assignment in order to assess an applicant’s suitability for admission.
Candidates may be required to pass a qualifying examination set by the relevant department before being accepted to a Masters degree programme. Attendance at selected undergraduate lecture courses at NCAD, together with related written work may be prescribed.
You may apply for the programme if you are currently completing your Undergraduate Degree. NCAD will review the rest of your application If necessary, we can make you a Conditional Offer. When your degree is completed and you send us final transcripts we will upgrade this to a Full Offer.
Applicants who have not been educated through English must show proof of achieving IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in the writing section on the Academic Version) or an equivalent score in another accepted test.
Essential Supporting Documentation
A statement framing your reasons for applying to the programme, i.e. how attending the above selected course will benefit you and your practice (500 words)
A recent CV
Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed
Certified copies of degree/ certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution
Find out more HERE
This postgraduate qualification is offered to artists, designers, curators and others who want to develop high level research skills and expertise for careers in the arts.
Info for the NCAD staff and current postgraduate NCAD students - please register here to participate free of charge.
High level research skills and critical understanding of research practices are vital skills for many artists and designers working today, as well as curators, arts writers and critics.
The professional certificate is also be an excellent foundation for a future research degree (MPhil, MLitt, MRes, PhD).
Applications are now closed.
Fee
€600
This 5-credit programme belongs to the 20-credit Professional Diploma in Art and Design Research offer.
Learners who completed the certificate can continue onto the remaining three 5-credit modules:
Professional Certificate in Art and Design Research
Art and Design Research Ethics*
Writing for / as Research*
Making Research Public
*participants select 1 of the 2 blocks marked with an asterisk.
While the certificates are priced at €600 each, there is Human Capital Initiative funding available for the Professional Diploma. Learners eligible for the HCI funding would be paying €1100 instead of €2200 for four modules.
CFA Scholarship:
A CFA scholarship encourages the participation of learners from sections of society that are significantly under-represented in higher education by offering one free place on all of our CFA short courses.
Find out if you are eligible to apply HERE
Fill in the CFA@NCAD scholarship application form HERE
CFA Contact
Dr Joanna Crawley crawleyj@staff.ncad.ie
Programme contact
Dr David Crowley crowleyd@staff.ncad.ie
Dr Sarah Pierce pierces@staff.ncad.ie
https://www.ncad.ie/directory/view/dr.-sarah-pierce
Admissions Contact
postgraduate@ncad.ie
