School Of Arts (WSoA) Fine Arts
About School Of Arts (WSoA) Fine Arts
The Division of Fine Arts is vibrantly interdisciplinary, combining technical training in artistic production with high levels of conceptual and creative thinking. The Department is situated in the cultural centre of Johannesburg, itself, the art centre of the country which hosts numerous major national and international exhibitions.
The Fine Arts division takes its location in Johannesburg seriously. As as a result there is an exciting series of site specific components to the course as well as a dynamic exhibitions program that consistently looks beyond the boom gates of the academy. This combined with the rigorous studio based program as well as academic excellence, gives students a range of options to explore and critically play with.
School Of Arts (WSoA) Fine Arts Undergraduate Studies
BA (Fine Arts)
Purpose of the Qualification
The purpose of the qualification is to produce a graduate who is professionally and academically qualified for entry into visual cultural practice. The purpose of the qualification is also to enhance the career of the graduate by enabling him/her to use higher order and lateral thinking and specialist knowledge in a particular discipline, profession or field of enquiry within the visual arts, and more broadly, within visual culture. Further, the purpose of the qualification is to produce graduates who can contribute to the economy of South Africa through Art and Culture.
General Information about the BA (Fine Arts) degree
The BA (Fine Arts) degree is a general Fine Arts qualification and covers four years of study.
The studio-based component for the degree involves a wide range of contemporary practice including Drawing, Painting, Sculpture, Printmaking, Photography, Performance, Installation, Video/Film, and Digital Media. The academic component consists of three consecutive years of History of Art and an Art Criticism academic course offered at the fourth year level. This course is taught at Honours level and focuses on contemporary art theory and practice. New courses in Professional Practice and a personal Research Project round out the final year of the Degree. Students who achieve satisfactory results in their final year may proceed directly to a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts. In the BA (FA), two additional first or second year level academic courses offered within the Arts Faculty are also required. The additional subjects offered by the University cover a large and diverse field of interest and you may choose any one on offer provided there are no timetable clashes.
While students learn a wide range of techniques and skills in the Fine Arts disciplines, we actively encourage an interdisciplinary approach to art making. In the first two years, the focus is on the development of conceptual and technical skills through carefully structured, project-based teaching. In the final two years, students are encouraged to work more independently and focus is more emphatically placed on individual creative and intellectual development.
History of Art is required as a major within the Fine Arts degree, but is also offered as a major within straight BA degrees. Details of these courses are in the handbook.
A MORE DETAILED OUTLINE OF THE CURRICULUM, SYLLABUS AND RULES IS AVAILABLE IN THE FACULTY OF HUMANITIES HANDBOOK.
Admission Requirements
Matric with University exemption, and the required points on the Wits rating system. See additional requirements in the Guide to Applicants.
In addition to gaining entrance into the faculty of humanities you will need to attend an admission interview where you are required to present a portfolio of your work.
There are no pre determined criteria for the portfolio. You must show your creative and intellectual work off to their utmost – you decide!
Please note that student intake is limited
School Of Arts (WSoA) Fine Arts Postgraduate Courses
Masters Courses in Fine Arts
We offer two kinds of masters courses in our discipline:
1. MA by Research in Fine Arts (AMC008)
2. MA by Coursework and Research Report in Fine Arts (in abeyance)
MA by Research in Fine Arts
This is a 2 year (full-time) or 3 year (part-time) programme which requires 2 equally weighted components to be completed: a body of practical creative work and a written dissertation not exceeding 25 000 words (excluding notes, bibliography, illustrations).
The practical creative work should be catalogued and documented in the written dissertation. There should be a clear but flexible relationship between the theory and practical components, with at least a section of the dissertation addressing significant aspects of the practical work. Since this course does not involve any taught coursework components, it is geared towards independent research under the guidance from a supervisor.
MA by Coursework and Research Report in Fine Arts
The MA Fine Art by Coursework and Research Report provides the opportunity for a more structured programme of study. There are two compulsory core courses and a wide range of elective courses to choose from to supplement these. With a wide range of options to choose from the coursework programme offers a unique opportunity to tailor a postgraduate degree around a set of interests or specialisations.
Core courses:
Art Critical Writing which provides an introduction to a number of key theoretical and critical perspectives and
Exhibition and Research Report for which a body of creative work and a Research Report of approx 10 000 words are required.
Elective courses:
You may select two further courses from a wide range of options in the School of Arts and from elsewhere in the University. These are described on the website under the various disciplines and include options such as:
The Curatorial as an Artistic Practice and The Construction of Contemporary South African Art in Fine Art; Animation Studies and Interactive Media in Digital Arts; Arts and Culture Management in Heritage Studies; and Rewriting the Self, Postcolonial Art History; African Art History, Curating Exhibitions and Collections Managementin History of Art among others.
Admission Requirements
Entry Requirements
Entry requirements for any MA degree in WSOA is a minimum 65% in the major subjects for the undergraduate degree. Apart from this, we interview each candidate, part of which involves viewing a portfolio of recent work. You are also required to submit a full proposal of the research you intend to do (guidelines for the writing of this proposal can be requested from the division via e-mail). Our division will review all applications after the interview and submission of the proposal and will notify applicants of our decision.
In order to apply for any of these courses you would need to contact Prof Jeremy Wafer to arrange for an interview. If an interview is not possible you may send by post or via the internet a selection of images of your work.
Transcripts of your academic record must be provided with your application. These must be certified copies, i.e. stamped/signed by that institution or Commissioner of Oaths. You should also provide the names of two referees from academic or professional people familiar with your work. Application forms can be found on the Wits website: www.wits.ac.za under ‘Student Enrolment Centre’. Make a printout, fill in by hand and send this with all other material to:
Prof Jeremy Wafer
Division of Fine Arts
Private Bag 3
Wits 2050
Course co-ordinator contact details
Prof Jeremy Wafer jeremy.wafer@wits.ac.za Tel no.: (011) 717-4631
School Of Arts (WSoA) Fine Arts Contact Details
Ms Liezel Borman
Divisional Secretary : Fine Arts
Room 223, Second Floor, WSOA Building
Telephone: +27 (11) 717 4654
Email: liezel.borman@wits.ac.za
or info.fineart@wits.ac.za
Professor David Andrew
Head of Fine Arts
Room 318, Third Floor, WSOA Building
Telephone: +27 (11) 717 4636
Email: david.andrew@wits.ac.za