Students on the MA and the MFA* engage with the same core subject matter. The MA is a one year course (or equivalent part time). The MFA is a two year course with the bulk of the Central-based teaching in the first year where MFA students share certain MA units.
The MA and MFA make the most of Central's unique context, being in the heart of a theatre conservatoire and our location in Camden – one of London’s most exciting arts and theatre districts. Both courses are delivered through collaboration with leading international arts organisations such as the Roundhouse Theatre, Battersea Arts Centre (BAC), Hampstead Theatre, Arts Admin and the London International Festival of Theatre, as well as Stage One, the registered charity working hand in hand with the commercial theatre industry to develop new theatre producers and support all producers to sustain the future of quality commercial theatre in this country.
Central graduates have gone on to become successful producers – among them Cameron Mackintosh, a name synonymous with Britain’s global pre-eminence in musical theatre, and David Jubb, whose pioneering work at BAC characterises the vibrancy and originality of London’s contemporary Fringe, or ‘off West End’ scene. The entrepreneurially skilled and culturally literate producer works in dialogue with artists to create performances and festivals, run venues and companies, manage projects, raise funds and investment and negotiate commissions. These skills have never been in such demand.
The programmes will enable you to learn through active, hands-on roles in the production of real-world projects, performances and events, under the guidance of professional practitioners and expert teaching staff. While learning, you will also gain a career head start by building a vital network of industry and peer contacts.
You will undertake masterclasses in producing with key industry leaders and innovators and take an active role in the organisation of real world events, productions and projects, underpinned by a solid critical understanding of the cultural industries and creative producing, relevant theory and current research in the performance field.
The intensive year of the MA, as well as the first year of the MFA, will provide you with professional creative producing projects in areas such as:
- international festival curation and organisation
- publicity, fundraising and the use of social media and viral communications international conference and celebratory event management
- theatre production and tour management
- producing community performance
- audience development.
These courses are suitable for:
- experienced stage managers or production managers who wish to develop as creative producers
- those already engaged in creative producing activities who wish to extend their knowledge in the field
- business graduates with an interest in performance arts applications
- experienced theatre or performance artists or graduates who wish to produce their own work and gain entrepreneurial skills
- arts graduates who wish to instigate or curate the work of others.
The MA may be taken over two years part-time by those with existing arts practice, who wish to develop relevant knowledge and expertise, creative entrepreneurial and project management skills and become part of Central’s extensive network of industry collaborators. The MFA will take place over two years full time, although other arrangements may be negotiated.
The MA and MFA have a flexible ‘open architecture’ designed to allow learning through a diverse range of practical projects. Central is involved in many external collaborative projects, as well as having its own production calendar. Our pioneering work in circus and street theatre means that we are well connected to, for example, Olympics-led initiatives. This provides a context for the courses which are modelled as an in-house Creative Producing Agency, with tutoring by visiting professionals. In both courses you will undertake a sustained independent project which will be portfolio-based.
Additional information about the MFA
In the first year of the MFA, you will join the MA students for two-thirds of their course. The MFA extends into a second year that engages you with further specialist subject skills. You are offered extended and sustained experience in the field, working closely with members of the related industry to embed yourself as a professional practitioner. In the second year of the course, you are encouraged to specialise in one or more directions building on the first year teaching. The MFA second year widens the opportunities to practice knowledge within a context and framework where pertinent questions can be asked, protocols tested and new structures suggested. You will be expected to undertake tutorials and occasional seminars, although these may be by Skype or virtual seminar facilities.
Within the 1200 hours of the MFA second year, Creative Producing you will undertake a range of experience at Central and with Central's extensive professional contacts In addition to further independent development. In negotiation with the course team, you may use your own work-based learning as the heart of the field experience or you may undertake attachments with key, experienced professionals or organisations in the field. Recent examples include producing attachments with the Roundhouse, LIFT and Arts Admin. You will articulate and reflect upon your development as a professional in a substantive portfolio. This portfolio is likely to include a minimum of two case studies, a two-year business plan and an evaluation of the work-based learning or attachment experience.
Which course is for me?
Both courses offer a masters award. The MA runs over one year, the MFA over two. The MFA offers a further embedding of skills and concepts learnt during its second year. In some countries, the MFA is more recognisable, particularly if you are interested in teaching or research in a higher education environment.
*subject to validation 2011/2012
