Professional Certificate in Digital Art and Contemporary Contexts

In this week-long, intensive programme learners will examine how to critically and meaningfully situate their creative work in the context of digital platforms and media practices. The course is due to run in January 2025.

It is increasingly more difficult to work offline and evade digital platforms while developing a creative career; however, it is the task of the creator to critique, analyse and remodel these spaces. This module offers creative practitioners a means to consider and frame their approaches to their material within a changing technological landscape. This might range from expanded video making, artists film, documenting performances, online studio visits, digital workshops or the curation of existing audio-video works.

This one-week intensive programme focuses on the development of contemporary works for public consumption using digital tools. It is an opportunity to initiate research and to be guided in the creation of contemporary works to communicate, mediate and disseminate the work of creative practitioners. Learners will be introduced to a range of digital technologies, critical theories of technology, creative approaches to technology, and the principles of socially engaged and site-specific creative practice using lab based, studio based and experiential tools. They will have the opportunity to continue with their existing creative practice or develop a new project to challenge, examine and plan for new directional opportunities within the digital realm. Students on this part-time Professional Certificate will examine the interconnected relationship online platforms have within contemporary art, extended creative fields and beyond.This module functions as a foundational component within the Creative Futures programme pathways.

Educational Standard

All applicants are expected to present an approved Bachelor degree at minimum level of 2nd class honours (2.2)

Applicants who do not meet the minimum academic entry requirements may be considered on the basis of prior work or learning experience (RPEL). 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.

Essential Supporting Documents

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.

The Professional Certificate in Digital Art & Contemporary Contexts is a stand-alone award but has the potential to become a formational part of a 20-credit Diploma as part of expanded postgraduate study.  NCAD offers other programmes to MA and MFA level.

This programme provides a sound and strong basis for further education at postgraduate level, most directly in relation to advancing to a Professional Diploma and developing contemporary creative practice and theory, contributing to wider fields of our expanding culture, society and economy.

Your work is focused through tutorials and expert advice; reinforced by strong links with industry, cultural institutions and leading creative practitioners who help students to develop their professional skills to position themselves successfully within the creative arts and industries.

Career opportunities include:

  • Production Opportunities in Moving Image/Film
  • Research and Development for Video or Film Works
  • Art Direction Role
  • Directing or Producing Role
  • Visual Storytelling Position

Participants are challenged to engage critically with how meaning is made, and how representations and encounters are produced, circulated, regulated and consumed in contemporary life, and act upon the ways in which value is constructed and understood by individuals and groups – in the contexts of local, national and global discourses. This Professional Certificate seeks to engage components selected from a larger hinterland of possible media practices and concerns.

The programme seeks to provide the transversal and specialist skills to equip creative practitioners to work within existing career paths, while also forge new career and creative pathways and learning.

Students will be advised by practitioners working in this field through directed learning including textual, practical and field research practices.

Kerry Guinan

Kerry Guinan is a conceptual artist working to critique labour and property relations under neoliberal capitalism. Characterised by its ambitious, risk-taking approach, her practice crosses the disciplines of performance, delegated performance, installation, public art, photography, and digital media to bring these relations into sharp focus.

Applications Open Autumn 2024 - Email postgraduate@ncad.ie to express your interest

Creative Futures Academy has been awarded a total of €315,640 from the Human Capital Initiative HCI Pillar 3 Micro-Credentials Subsidy funding. Subsidies will range from 50 - 80% of the total course costs for eligible learners.

The fee for this programme is €600. Student who meet the eliginbility criteria for the HCI Miocro-cred funding will have €300 of the course fee funded with the student liable to pay the remaining €300.  

This course is eligible for subsidy funding. Full details can be found here. 

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