Master degree of jewellery design | Master of Fine Arts

Master of Fine Arts major in Contemporary jewellery and Cultural identity

The Master of Fine Arts program lasts two years and has the aim of investigating, expanding and deepening the knowledge and skills of the students, generating an awareness of their own points of strength to develop a personal creative language.

Alchimia’s MFA program develops over a two-year period with the aim of expanding and deepening students’ knowledge and skills in studio-based contemporary jewellery design. Our programme is intended to generate further critical understanding of contemporary jewellery, strengthen individual artistic approaches and positions, and investigate new possibilities for marketing and promotion.

The objective of the course is to render the students independent and highly qualitatively prepared in every aspect of their work as jewellery designers and makers, not only in research, creation, and production, but also in networking, exhibiting and self-presentation in relation to galleries and collectors. Special attention is given to the ability to position your work within a contemporary context and to critically evaluate your own progress.

Our MFA Master of Fine Arts major in Contemporary jewellery and Cultural identity program also involves more collective activities, such as carrying out the entire process of holding an event — including fundraising, curating, and writing the appropriate contents.

During the second year of the MFA Master of Fine Arts major in Contemporary jewellery and Cultural identity, students have access to a workshop space exclusively designed for them. Only 8 students for the MFA program are admitted per year, ensuring close and personal interaction between students and tutors.

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First Year

During the first year, the main focus for the students is defining their Personal Project as jewellery makers and designers. This first phase of research explores design methodologies in different contexts as well as state-of-the-art technical and digital inductions devoted to contemporary jewellery design.
Moreover, this first phase of our program introduces emerging technologies and new materials and helps the students refine their presentation skills.
Set projects, such as seminars, technical and conceptual workshops, exhibitions, and group critiques, will run alongside to implement individual research in contemporary jewellery design. Students are expected to develop and deepen ideas for the definition of their jewellery design Personal Project on an individual basis, managing their time between group-oriented activities. By the end of the year, students are expected to have developed their contextual, critical, and research skills in order to fully concentrate on their Personal Project during their second year.
The students’ learning process is constantly followed by a Tutor. The curriculum culminates in an exhibition, which presents the outcomes of the first year of experience, and in the submission of a dissertation on the Personal Project, to be carried out during the second year.

Main Areas of Study

Modern and Contemporary Art History, Goldsmithing & Technical Jewellery Lab Specialization, Jewellery Photography “Digital Photo Processing”, Material Experimentation, Research Methodologies & Processes, Contemporary Jewellery History, Web Development.

Second Year

For the second year of our MFA Master of Fine Arts major in Contemporary Jewellery and Cultural Identity, Alchimia School of Contemporary Jewellery Design provides the students with an independent well-furnished Studio designed specifically for them, ensuring a relaxed atmosphere and the freedom to create.
This phase of the programme will be supported by different workshops, helping the participants to engage with current debates in contemporary art history, theory and practice, as well as an intensive series of one-to-one tutorials, focused upon individual work and research in jewellery design. Students will be encouraged to broadly reflect on their work in relation to contemporary cultural production and discourse.
The aim of this process is to strengthen their individual positions as jewellery designers and artists, learn how to critically evaluate their own work, and how to present it within the context of an exhibition. Students are responsible for the development of their jewellery design Project, according to a schedule that is subject to a timetable of deadlines for delivery and review throughout the year. The second-year concludes with the holding of a solo exhibition from each student, curated individually and accompanied by a catalogue.

Main Areas of Study

Cultural Analysis, Exhibition Curating, Articulation of Practice, Guided Professional Research, Reflective Analysis, Marketing & Social media; Web Development, Thesis.