Camberwell was the first college in the UK to provide specialist postgraduate study in the emerging field of Book Arts. Fuelled by advances in electronic information media and online publishing, the book has been freed from the traditional role as a container of information. Ongoing debates concerning the cultural, individual and creative functions of the book underpin course discussions.

Studies are complemented by lectures, seminars and workshops designed to support you to further develop your research skills, professional practice and your awareness and understanding of the wider context of book arts as an area of Fine Art and Design practice..

There is a shared lecture programme across the Visual Arts course, which draws upon the richness of research within the College and across the Graduate School.

We are able to offer our students many exciting opportunities outside of the College, such as participation on course stands at Artists' Book Fairs and visits to special collections such as those at the Tate, John Latham's FlatTime House and the National Art Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Opportunities to show work in public exhibitions give students the possibility to explore the 'expanded' book in a display or installation.

Course Highlights

These include opportunities to participate at book fairs and visit special collections such as those at the Tate and the National Art Library at the Victoria & Albert Museum. A public exhibition at the end of the final unit gives you the possibility to explore the expanded book in a display or installation.

MA Book Arts Staff

The Book Arts teaching team is made up of experienced educators and practicing book artists. The course is led by Subject Leader Susan Johanknecht, in 2000 she co-curated the artists' book millennium project 'volumes (of vulnerability)' which included the work of 20 artists and toured internationally and in 2003-04 the 'writing instructions/reading walls' project has developed into the book 'here are my instructions'. She is the founder of Gefn Press, a writer and curator.

Course tutor Les Bicknell has work included in the collections of the National Art Library, Victoria & Albert Museum, the Rijksmuseum, and MOMA in New York, and is currently lead artist on several community based projects.

Visiting tutors include Dr Helen Dougles who is co-founder of Weproductions, Maria Fusco, Tony Hayward, Virginia Nimarkoh an artist and curator, and Dr Redell Olsen, a poet and editor of How2' internet journal. The critic and curator Paul Tebbs, whose writing regularly appears in Sourse, Afterimage and Art Review leads the Postgraduate Professional Development unit.

The pathway will allow you to develop a project from proposal to final exhibition. You will be asked to research the content, materials and technical skills, then produce written and practical work exploring your subject in relationship to contemporary practice. You should be well grounded in relevant aspects of Book Arts and be able to define and debate your study proposal. This programme of work is supported, negotiated and supervised throughout the course by specialist academic staff in workshops, individual tutorials, seminars and lectures. Staff and student-led seminars promote debate and work-in-progress sessions allow for supportive critique.

The skills and knowledge developed on this course have led graduates to careers as book artists, curators, freelance designers, workshop leaders and teachers. Successful graduates from this course have won prizes including; Sovereign Asian Art Prize, Craft Council Development Awards, the Seoul Book Fair Prize and the London Book Fair Prize. Graduates also work at the National Art Library, Ewha Women's University in Seoul and several have gone on to complete PhDs.

• An Honours Degree or equivalent academic/professional qualifications.
• Portfolio of supporting work.
• Study Proposal.
• Applicants whose first language is not English must show proof of IELTS level 6.5 and a minimum of 5.5 in reading, listening, writing and speaking. The University also accepts other tests. Please see the University English tests page for the equivalent scores required in these tests.
• The College takes into consideration prior learning, alternative qualifications and experience.

How to Apply

Home/EU students

CCW Graduate School Application Form 2012 (doc)

Completed forms, including your study proposal, reference & portfolio (if required) can be returned by post to:
CCW Graduate School Admissions
16 John Islip Street
London
SW1P 4JU

Or you can submit your form electronically to ccwgraduateschool@arts.ac.uk

Guidelines for electronic submission (doc)

International students
Please visit the CCW International Apply page to download an application form or contact the CCW International Office.
T: +44 (0)20 7514 1852
E: ccwinternational@arts.ac.uk

Application Deadlines
UK & EU applicants: 2 July 2012
International: No official deadline, but you are advised to apply as soon as possible.

What happens next?
Applications will be reviewed against the entry requirements and selection criteria for the course. You may then be invited to attend an interview at the College on a set day, with your full portfolio if applicable.