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M.F.A. in Painting and Printmaking

APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
M.F.A. Painting and Printmaking

DEADLINE:
 Jan 15 + Feb 15

Overview

The Master of Fine Arts program is based on intensive studio practice at advanced level in the areas of Painting or Printmaking. The program is highly selective and is presently limited to fifteen participants. The Painting and Printmaking Graduate Program is housed in the new Fine Arts Building with fifteen new large, spacious individual Graduate Painting Studios. These new facilities provide an excellent physical environment for the Graduate Program with easy access to the other fine arts areas of Sculpture and Crafts. Our Graduate program is ranked among the top twenty best Graduate Fine Arts Programs in the country by US News and World Report . This is based on the professional reputation of our faculty and on the outstanding accomplishments of the students who graduate from our department. We are one of the largest departments of Painting and Printmaking in the country. All of the other departments in the School of the Arts at Virginia Commonwealth University developed from the Painting and Printmaking Department, which was established in 1928. For nearly 70 years we have made significant contributions to the development of the School of the Arts' reputation as one of the premier art schools in the country. The Master of Fine Art Degree in Painting and Printmaking requires sixty credits and is usually completed in two years of full time study. Most of these credits are in studio areas and are augmented by related courses in specialized academic fields. A graduate seminar meets weekly and addresses topics related to contemporary art and theory. Two semesters of Art and Critical Theory, a course which surveys the major themes of contemporary art criticism, are also required. Graduate students meet with individual committees composed of three faculty members. Each committee and student conducts an ongoing dialogue and critique. At the end of the second semester students discuss their work at a candidacy critique comprised of their committee and additional faculty. At the successful conclusion of the program's second year M.F.A. recipients mount a comprehensive exhibition of their work at the University's Anderson Gallery or the Fine Arts Building Gallery. We support an active and ambitious program of visiting artists and lecturers. Leading figures in the world of contemporary art visit to discuss their work, critique, visit studios, conduct workshops and meet with students throughout the year. The Master of Fine Arts is the terminal degree in the studio areas of Fine Arts, and is a requirement for most College and University teaching positions. Many graduate students have gained teaching experience in our department as part of their assistantship responsibilities, teaching classes in Painting, Drawing and Printmaking. The Department assists graduate students financially through a variety of teaching assistantships, graduate assistantships and scholarships.

UNDERGRADUATE PREPARATION

Applicants must have earned an undergraduate bachelor’s degree. Visual Arts applicants should have completed a minimum of 36 semester hour credits in art, and 20 credits of painting, printmaking or related course work at the undergraduate level.

PORTFOLIO FORMAT

Portfolio should include 20 images of representative work conveying your commitment and recent development, three of which must be drawings that reflect your work and serve as a window into your process. (Sketchbook images are fine). Present work chronologically with oldest work first and newest work last. You may submit still and / or moving images. Present your work in only one format: digital images or slides. Digital images are submitted online. Slides are mailed to the School of the Arts Dean’s Office at:

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VCU School of the Arts
Dean's Office, Graduate Studies
Attn: Melanie Christian, Graduate Coordinator
PO Box 842519
Richmond, VA 23284-2519

Digital Images:

  • 20 images

  • Image Format: .jpg or .png or .gif

  • Image Resolution: 1280 x 1024 pixels at 72 dpi

  • Image Maximum Size: 4 MB

  • Video Format: Quicktime (.mov)

  • Video Maximum Size: 200 MB maximum each. Each video clip counts as a single image. Total time for all moving images cannot exceed 5 minutes.

  • Online Description Statement: When uploading your images online, use the “Description Statement” to provide additional information to help us understand each image presented. Use this area to describe anomalous sizes (square footage, etc.). Be specific when describing materials used in each work.

    - OR -

Slides:

  • 20 slides, numbered 1 through 20

  • Arrange your slides in chronological order (slides of older work first).

  • Information must be written directly on the slide mount, including name, slide number, and arrow to indicate top of work.

  • No labels on slides, please.

  • Slides will be projected one at a time.

  • Loosely rubber-band slides together in 2 bundles of 10 in descending numerical order, with slide #10 and #20 on the top of each bundle.

  • Documentation List: Identify each numbered image with the following: title, date, size, materials. Use the “Documentation List” to provide additional information to help us understand each image presented. Be specific when describing materials used in each work.

  • SASE: Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for the return of slides.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

  • Admission Application

  • Signature Page x 2 (online application only)

  • Three letters of reference

  • Two official transcripts from EACH college or university previously attended

  • VA In-state Tuition form Virginia residents only

  • Application fee: $50 US to Virginia Commonwealth University

  • Portfolio (digital images submitted online or slides mailed to the School of the Arts Dean’s Office)

  • Online Description Statement (digital images) or Documentation list (slides)

  • Artist’s statement (replaces " Statement of Purpose" requirement of application)

  • Resume

  • S.A.S.E. (return of slides only)

DOMESTIC APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURE

A.) ONLINE APPLICATION

B.) SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS

  • Signature Page from online application procedure. (Displayed at the end of online application process. Print one for your records and one for submission with supplemental materials). Clearly mark this page as Painting and Printmaking MFA.

  • Official transcripts x 2 from each institution attended.

  • VA In-state Tuition Form (Virginia residents only).

  • Application fee (check for $50 to Virginia Commonwealth University if not paid online).

  • Letters of Reference

    MAIL TO:
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    VCU School of the Arts
    Dean's Office, Graduate Studies
    Attn: Melanie Christian, Graduate Coordinator
    PO Box 842519
    Richmond, VA 23284-2519

C1.) ONLINE PORTFOLIO UPLOAD

  • Initiate upload at http://app.art.vcu.edu

  • Submit 20 images as directed.

  • Upload Artist Statement as pdf (same as that submitted for “Statement of Purpose” in VCU eServices portion of application).

  • Upload Resume as pdf. Both Artist Statement and Resume pdf’s should be uploaded in the same fashion as the image upload.

    - OR -

C2.) ONLY if submitting Slides:

  • Application Identification Page with name, Painting and Printmaking MFA, and date of birth

  • Slides

  • Documentation list

  • Artist Statement (copy of that submitted for “Statement of Purpose” in VCU eServices portion of application)

  • Resume

  • S.A.S.E.

    MAIL TO:
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    VCU School of the Arts
    Dean's Office, Graduate Studies
    Attn: Melanie Christian, Graduate Coordinator
    PO Box 842519
    Richmond, VA 23284-2519

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION PROCEDURE Please note:

  • To be considered for direct entry, a TOEFL score of 600 (250 or better for computer-based exams), or IELTS score 7 or higher must be submitted.

  • Applicants with a score of 550 – 600 (213 – 250 for computer-based exams) or IELTS 6.0 – 6.5 may be admitted provisionally with an English language deficiency. If approved by the Sculpture Chair, these students can take English language classes at VCU in the summer before academic enrollment. Pending successful completion of the ELP requirements, these students will be enrolled in the Fall class.

  • Applicants with a TOEFL score below 550 (213 for computer-based exams), or IELTS score below 6.0 will not be considered.

INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION SUBMISSION

A.) APPLICATION + SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:

  • Application Form - follow all directions for graduate admission for international applicants, specified at http://www.vcu.edu/oie/ia/ia_app_grad.html

  • Letters of Reference x 3

  • Official transcripts x 2 of each institution attended

  • Artist’s Statement (this replaces “Statement of Purpose” required on the application).

  • Application fee (US$50)
    MAIL TO:
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    VCU School of the Arts
    Dean's Office, Graduate Studies
    Attn: Melanie Christian, Graduate Coordinator
    PO Box 842519
    Richmond, VA 23284-2519

B1.) ONLINE PORTFOLIO UPLOAD:

- OR -

B2.) ONLY if submitting SLIDES:

  • Application Identification Page with name, Painting and Printmaking MFA, and date of birth.

  • Portfolio

  • Documentation list

  • Resume

  • S.A.S.E. (with international postage)
    MAIL TO:
    arrow    arrow    arrow
    VCU School of the Arts
    Dean's Office, Graduate Studies
    Attn: Melanie Christian, Graduate Coordinator
    PO Box 842519
    Richmond, VA 23284-2519

DEADLINES

  • January 15 to be considered for University Graduate School Fellowships
    (and all other support including teaching assistantships, working fellowships and scholarships).

  • February 15 to be considered for teaching assistantships, working fellowships and scholarships.