Expand+What is the programme about?
In our media-saturated reality, it is easy to see why artists and curators look towards lens-based practice when producing or displaying artworks that describe the world in which we live. Even a cursory inspection of ma...

Hide-What is the programme about?
In our media-saturated reality, it is easy to see why artists and curators look towards lens-based practice when producing or displaying artworks that describe the world in which we live. Even a cursory inspection of many contemporary art institutions and large-scale art festivals, such as the Irish Museum of Modern Art, Venice Biennale, Glasgow International, EVA International, Documenta, will reveal that the vast majority of works selected for these events are firmly grounded in lens based practice.

Some of the world's most successful artists in recent years work within this set of media and discourse. These include: Amie Siegel, Elizabeth Price, Ryan Trecartin, Hito Steyerl, John Gerrard, and Martha Rosler. With this in mind, the Photography & Lens Based Media programme aims to provide its students with the most cutting edge and relevant framework for producing contemporary fine art in the 21st century.

This programme offers an innovative and engaging education in what is a critically relevant discipline in Fine Art practice today and provides students with a diverse skillset that is at the intersection of contemporary art and digital media. This multi-disciplinary skillset is directly transferable to many new media industries and conceptual art endeavour. It is an exciting programme that challenges students to engage with complex contextualised inquiry while realising these ideas with traditional and technological media.

New media technologies such as digital camera use, still and video editing, sound production and digital art making are integrated with traditional wet photography, installation art, and a varied mixed media aesthetic pursuit. Lens Based and Digital Media students develop a multi-faceted approach in their conceptual art practice. The programme is supported with access to state of the art equipment and editing suites, facilitated by nationally and internationally exhibiting lecturers and complemented by a high profile visiting lecturer programme.

Expand+Year 2: This year aims to introduce students to the principles of Photography and Lens Based Media. Delivered through regular individual and group tutorials, seminars, workshops, fieldtrips, and a visiting lecturer programme, the module gives learnin...

Hide-Year 2: This year aims to introduce students to the principles of Photography and Lens Based Media. Delivered through regular individual and group tutorials, seminars, workshops, fieldtrips, and a visiting lecturer programme, the module gives learning resources, time and space for students to develop and contextualise their individual projects. Special attention is given to the development of technical skills in the use of photography, lens-based media and related software.

Year 3: The aim of Year 3 is to further develop students’ engagement with the principles of Photography and Lens Based Media leading to the presentation of a body of work for assessment. Students will continue to focus and develop research methods to stimulate in-depth, complex ideas and to integrate such thinking into daily artistic practice. An emphasis will be placed on the formulation of a concise methodology around the production of individual projects. Students will also continue to develop skills in photography, lens-based media, multimedia and related software programmes.

Year 4: In this year there will be a combination of individual and group tutorials, seminars, workshops, professional practice and a visiting lecturer programme. This year gives learning resources, time and space for students to develop and contextualise a finished project involving the use of photography and lens-based media towards a final year BA degree exhibition. Students will focus and develop research methods to stimulate in-depth, complex ideas and to integrate such thinking into their practice. An emphasis will be placed on the presentation of a finalised project/exhibition that reflects and builds upon the technical and theoretical knowledge of each student.

Expand+What can I do after the programme?
Graduates will have a broad skill and knowledge base in photography and lens based technologies, including new digital technologies, their implications and practical uses, as well as a complementary knowledge of ...

Hide-What can I do after the programme?
Graduates will have a broad skill and knowledge base in photography and lens based technologies, including new digital technologies, their implications and practical uses, as well as a complementary knowledge of analogue processes that are still widely used by contemporary artists. Job opportunities include: Artist, Camera Operator, Editor, Colour Grader, Web Content Producer, Sound Technician, Audio Visual Technician, Special Effects, Curator, Art Critic/ Writer.