MFA programs (visual art) ~ What should I expect?
June 11, 2015 4:56 PM Subscribe
I'm having trouble getting anyone to give me an overview of what an MFA program will be looking for in a student, how applications will work, or the types of programs and what those distinctions mean.
I am an art student in a large private university currently earning my BFA. I chose this path because I want to make multimedia installation art and support myself through my practice (and teaching if need be). That being said, I know I will need at least one MFA, preferably in the city where I hope to start making work full time after getting said MFA. While I'm doing undergrad in Southern California, I'm leaning towards grad school in NYC, so if anyone has more specific information on regional differences between programs generally or the city specifically, that would be greatly appreciated. I know the career I've dedicated myself to is and will be hard, so I want to be prepared. Thank you!
One last side note if you happen to be familiar- Where do residencies fit in?
I am an art student in a large private university currently earning my BFA. I chose this path because I want to make multimedia installation art and support myself through my practice (and teaching if need be). That being said, I know I will need at least one MFA, preferably in the city where I hope to start making work full time after getting said MFA. While I'm doing undergrad in Southern California, I'm leaning towards grad school in NYC, so if anyone has more specific information on regional differences between programs generally or the city specifically, that would be greatly appreciated. I know the career I've dedicated myself to is and will be hard, so I want to be prepared. Thank you!
One last side note if you happen to be familiar- Where do residencies fit in?
Why do you say you need an MFA? I know a couple dozen people with MFAs from top art schools who have not been able to make it in the art world (not as artists, at least). Conversely, I do know a few people who made it (represented by top galleries, making a full living solely through their art) without MFAs.
If I were you, I would reach out to current students (better yet, recent grads) from NYU's ITP program and a few other potential schools, and ask them directly about their experience in the program before even digging into more details about the application process. I think it's worth looking at schools outside of New York as well (MIT Media Lab maybe, CalArts, etc)...focus on wherever you can find the professors you're most interested in working with.
posted by three_red_balloons at 8:10 PM on June 11, 2015
If I were you, I would reach out to current students (better yet, recent grads) from NYU's ITP program and a few other potential schools, and ask them directly about their experience in the program before even digging into more details about the application process. I think it's worth looking at schools outside of New York as well (MIT Media Lab maybe, CalArts, etc)...focus on wherever you can find the professors you're most interested in working with.
posted by three_red_balloons at 8:10 PM on June 11, 2015
Try to have a specialty and communicate it effectively. Not just multimedia installation art (those are just materials)--but also: what is your special/unique perspective on the world? What makes you different? Of course, you can change that point-of-view when you get into the program and have your mind blown. Once you figure out your perspective, you can also use that wording to apply for grants and scholarships, which I strongly recommend, as no one should pay the full price tag for grad school (no one!)
In an application you should mention faculty you want to work with. They are easy to find out about on the school websites. Also, you may be interested in certain technologies the school offers since you do multimedia. Maybe one school has a bangin' new media dept.
Don't do the low-residency option. It's a scam. One of the major benefits of grad school is the network you form there. Low-res has zero-little network.
PS-- you don't need an MFA to begin making multimedia installation art. Just start making it. Expect to be able to support yourself from your practice in about 20-40 years. Yes you can apply to be a teacher but the competition is strong and smart, which I'm sure you are too, but yeah, it's a rough road.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 9:49 PM on June 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
In an application you should mention faculty you want to work with. They are easy to find out about on the school websites. Also, you may be interested in certain technologies the school offers since you do multimedia. Maybe one school has a bangin' new media dept.
Don't do the low-residency option. It's a scam. One of the major benefits of grad school is the network you form there. Low-res has zero-little network.
PS-- you don't need an MFA to begin making multimedia installation art. Just start making it. Expect to be able to support yourself from your practice in about 20-40 years. Yes you can apply to be a teacher but the competition is strong and smart, which I'm sure you are too, but yeah, it's a rough road.
posted by Jason and Laszlo at 9:49 PM on June 11, 2015 [1 favorite]
I am a university art professor who received my MFA a couple years ago. I also attend 1-3 residencies per year.
It's pretty discouraged in our industry to go straight from a BA to MFA. Graduate schools like to see that you can maintain a studio practice and exhibition record outside of undergrad "in the real world" for at least a couple years. You may still finagle your way in straight through, but typically if you do you will pay more (receive fewer grants) and probably not get accepted into as high profile places as you can get into if you wait.
The MFA is only required if you want to teach university/college-level art and maybe fancy private K-12. That's it. If you want to teach typical public/private K-12 it is not necessary. If you want to be a practicing studio artist it is not necessary. There are two lengths of MFA programs: 2 year and 3 year. The 2 year programs are primarily production focused. The 3 year programs typically involve some emphasis on teaching experience in addition to production. I did a 3 year as teaching experience is very helpful in jump-starting a teaching career. The last time I ran the numbers based on articles and stats pulled from the Chronicle of Higher Education, the chance of success in finding full-time employment in higher education in art was about 4%. It's just ridiculously competitive. I am the only person I know of in the last several years from my entire graduate school (not just in my discipline) who has a full-time position teaching art at the university level. Which is, again, the only reason one needs to get an MFA. Despite my success, given the odds I cannot suggest that you rely on thinking you will succeed with 96% unemployment in field. To succeed requires the purchase of a lot of lottery tickets (apply to all conceivably relevant openings worldwide and be willing to settle wherever) and then the hope that your number is called. If you still want to pursue an MFA for fun/education, I'd really focus on cost and value to you (value definitely includes the location, specific faculty, and network; low-res is an awful option) since it is an entirely optional degree with actual and opportunity cost if you aren't pursuing higher ed teaching.
Residencies are a type of resume-building activity. Depending on the places you attend they are of higher or lower prestige. Some residency programs are really money-making endeavors that accept all or most applicants and charge high residency fees (domestic high fee residencies are of the lowest prestige level and I just won't do these - it seems to me like a vanity press printing). Others are partially subsidized (most international residencies, some domestic) and others are fully subsidized. Some even provide a stipend in exchange for certain activities (donating a number of pieces to the hosting institution/artist lectures/etc) but these are typically for mid-career artists. You can start applying for residencies now, but only apply to ones that either explicitly or implicitly accept emerging/new artists as you are not going to be competitive with mid-career residency options. Note that to get your first few residencies, you will have to look at realistically modest programs given your minimal experience level.
I go on residencies for several reasons:
1) it builds my resume through the residency itself and the typically associated shows/lectures
2) for me, it guarantees my productivity whereas at home sometimes other obligations supersede my studio practice
3) it expands my network and challenges me creatively as I often work alongside other artists staying at the residencies (but sometimes you'll be the only one)
4) it allows me a guilt-free working vacation/travel
posted by vegartanipla at 1:52 AM on June 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
It's pretty discouraged in our industry to go straight from a BA to MFA. Graduate schools like to see that you can maintain a studio practice and exhibition record outside of undergrad "in the real world" for at least a couple years. You may still finagle your way in straight through, but typically if you do you will pay more (receive fewer grants) and probably not get accepted into as high profile places as you can get into if you wait.
The MFA is only required if you want to teach university/college-level art and maybe fancy private K-12. That's it. If you want to teach typical public/private K-12 it is not necessary. If you want to be a practicing studio artist it is not necessary. There are two lengths of MFA programs: 2 year and 3 year. The 2 year programs are primarily production focused. The 3 year programs typically involve some emphasis on teaching experience in addition to production. I did a 3 year as teaching experience is very helpful in jump-starting a teaching career. The last time I ran the numbers based on articles and stats pulled from the Chronicle of Higher Education, the chance of success in finding full-time employment in higher education in art was about 4%. It's just ridiculously competitive. I am the only person I know of in the last several years from my entire graduate school (not just in my discipline) who has a full-time position teaching art at the university level. Which is, again, the only reason one needs to get an MFA. Despite my success, given the odds I cannot suggest that you rely on thinking you will succeed with 96% unemployment in field. To succeed requires the purchase of a lot of lottery tickets (apply to all conceivably relevant openings worldwide and be willing to settle wherever) and then the hope that your number is called. If you still want to pursue an MFA for fun/education, I'd really focus on cost and value to you (value definitely includes the location, specific faculty, and network; low-res is an awful option) since it is an entirely optional degree with actual and opportunity cost if you aren't pursuing higher ed teaching.
Residencies are a type of resume-building activity. Depending on the places you attend they are of higher or lower prestige. Some residency programs are really money-making endeavors that accept all or most applicants and charge high residency fees (domestic high fee residencies are of the lowest prestige level and I just won't do these - it seems to me like a vanity press printing). Others are partially subsidized (most international residencies, some domestic) and others are fully subsidized. Some even provide a stipend in exchange for certain activities (donating a number of pieces to the hosting institution/artist lectures/etc) but these are typically for mid-career artists. You can start applying for residencies now, but only apply to ones that either explicitly or implicitly accept emerging/new artists as you are not going to be competitive with mid-career residency options. Note that to get your first few residencies, you will have to look at realistically modest programs given your minimal experience level.
I go on residencies for several reasons:
1) it builds my resume through the residency itself and the typically associated shows/lectures
2) for me, it guarantees my productivity whereas at home sometimes other obligations supersede my studio practice
3) it expands my network and challenges me creatively as I often work alongside other artists staying at the residencies (but sometimes you'll be the only one)
4) it allows me a guilt-free working vacation/travel
posted by vegartanipla at 1:52 AM on June 12, 2015 [6 favorites]
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Why not visit some websites and compare? In NYC, a visual arts MFA seeker would consider Columbia, SVA, Hunter, NYU, Parsons, and Pratt. Bard and SUNY Purchase are outside the city but connected to it via the faculty/visiting artists.
Where residencies fit in is that in between your BFA and MFA you can attend some in order to make work, focus, and meet other artists and mentors. Post-MFA, you can continue to attend residencies... they are a good break from your regular routine, and often can provide an opportunity to work in a part of the world you wouldn't otherwise to be able to afford a month's lodging in.
posted by xo at 5:21 PM on June 11, 2015