Multimedia Interdisciplinary Arts -Is there a program out there?

[fluxist]

I am looking into MFA programs that exist that are interested in Multimedia and the interdisciplinary arts. Most programs seem to break down into medium categories (Photography, painting, video, etc.)

My work deals with everything and in between, sound, installation, photography, writing, performance, painting, and video. This doesn't seem so odd to run into these days in the art world but most MFA programs still seem very compartmentalized.

I was wondering if anyone in their MFA program research has come across any programs that not only accept interdisciplinary work but also embrace it.

Thanks for sharing!

[appliqed]

Check out programs under media arts. A good example would be UCLA's Design/Media Arts program.

If you are okay with a certain degree of programming (actionscript, processing, etc), programs under digital media may work for your interests as well.

[littlenova]

@Fluxist: Really? Almost every school I researched when applying had an interdisciplinary focus or some kind of inter-arts offering...and more programs are heading in that direction. I actually would say all the top schools have those offerings and the more traditional discipline-focused programs are becoming the exception. I would definitely do more research...Here are a few standouts:

UCLA Interdisciplinary Studio

Mount Royal @ MICA

CalArts has 2 programs

Carnegie Mellon

Columbia

NYU

Bard

Columbia College in Chicago

Mills College

Combined Media @ UPenn

Mixed media @ Rutgers

Many universities offer an inter-arts option, too...

Some Sculpture departments actually house very interdisciplinary studies as well...Like:

SAIC

VCU

There are too many to mention...

Don't forget, if a school offers a general Studio MFA, they could very well be interdisciplinary,too. And often times, just because you go in for a particular discipline, does not mean you are confined to it. I am going in to MICA for lens-based work, but will be exploring sound and installation. I think you need to research the curriculum, talk with prospective faculty and see how they will work with you.

[pionkowskig]

Most universities encourage work like you do. Though, it is true, for many schools within the selection process you must usually decide what area to apply to in order for them to view your portfolio for admission. So just pick the area to apply to that strongest represents your portfolio, and because you work with so many mediums this should actually be an advantage for you during the selection process. My point is don't not apply to a school you want to just because they don't have a certain program description. Once you get in you can usually do anything you want and its encouraged!

[grad_wannabe]

I had the same outlook as you, going into this process (see the variety of schools/programs I applied to below). I work in video, installation, performance, curating, writing and drawing.

USC and MIT might both be good options for you, as well as NYU's ITP program if you're into programming and digital work. Do you have a website we could look at?

[littlenova]

@gradwannabe: Yeah, interdisciplinary can be low tech or high tech... Lots of of options for either...

Do you consider curating to be a discipline, though?

Edited April 19, 2010 by littlenova

[grad_wannabe]

@gradwannabe: Yeah, interdisciplinary can be low tech or high tech... Lots of of options for either...

Do you consider curating to be a discipline, though?

Hmm no I guess you're right - curating is not really a discipline per se. I just threw it in there as part of the list of stuff I like to do!

[littlenova]

Curating is definitely a gift! And I'm sure it doesn't hurt one's application when applying.

[turnip]

Hmm no I guess you're right - curating is not really a discipline per se. I just threw it in there as part of the list of stuff I like to do!

Just wanted to mention, Bard has a Curatorial Studies Program: http://www.bard.edu/ccs/

[sirjimbob]

My work is in multimedia and spans multiple disciplines and I chose to go to NYU's ITP program.

[littlenova]

@Turnip: Would you consider curating to be an artistic discipline? I'm not being sassy...I genuinely want to know if it's considered an artistic discipline, because I have met some people that treat it as such and I always thought of it as an academic thrust like studying Art History.

[grad_wannabe]

@Turnip: Would you consider curating to be an artistic discipline? I'm not being sassy...I genuinely want to know if it's considered an artistic discipline, because I have met some people that treat it as such and I always thought of it as an academic thrust like studying Art History.

I agree that curating usually falls under a more art-history/museum studies/curatorial studies type of bent. I do know, though, that the curating I've done (I got a UROP fellowship to start a gallery in a new information sciences building at my UG uni) had a big effect on my admission to CalArts (Tom brought it up both during a preliminary meeting I had with him back in the fall and during my official interview in the spring), and I suspect that it also played a big part in my admission to MIT (being a science-y program).

So, while the fields are usually separated, the mixing of disciplines we're seeing in higher art education today (especially for students working in a variety of mediums) means anything is fair game to include in a portfolio, as pedagogical institutions evolve in a thematically based direction.

Just as an example, my work involves a lot of investigation into the cognition of perception and the process of compartmentalization of knowledge. While I work through these issues primarily in video, installation and performance, I also curate along these same themes and ideas. The curating is just another facet of my practice - every facet is reaching for the same ontological comprehension. Thus, I present it in the same context as the rest of my portfolio.

[savantarde]

Columbia College in Chicago has a pretty legit Interdisciplinary MFA. I got in there, but turned it down for my dream school.

They seemed very cordial, and were definitely excited about sharing information on the possibilities available to InterArts students. They've also got some top-notch facilities!

[littlenova]

So, while the fields are usually separated, the mixing of disciplines we're seeing in higher art education today (especially for students working in a variety of mediums) means anything is fair game to include in a portfolio, as pedagogical institutions evolve in a thematically based direction.

@gradwannabe: What a great response! And definitely a phenomenon I am seeing alot more of. It used to be that if you wanted to write about art or run a space, you'd be compromising your own work in the process. When I did a curatorial study abroad in Cork a few years ago, there were mostly history majors and writers that were studying to be critics and not one had taken an art class. I felt as though, I had to hide the side of me that wanted to discuss art if I wanted to be successful at making it. I also sort of felt like a fish out of water, because some of these kids were working towards a Phd. But, I am intrigued by those who think of this as just another discipline they work in....and further that they can view it as a way to inform their work.

When I lived in Miami, most of the spaces in Wynwood were run by artists and educators and alot of the success that happened there can be attributed to this "mobilization" of group shows, collaborations and collective projects. When I applied to grad programs, I noticed more and more MFA curriculums were integrating some kind of curatorial component along with art practice. It's exciting.