Transart Institute
In this innovative Doctoral program, your creative practice entwines with writing and reflection to become rigorous and original research—in short; your practice is the research. Our intuitive, responsive program provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to come to grips with and explore the deep questions that drive your creative work. Your time in the program will also transform your practice and awareness of what it can do and result in a significant contribution to knowledge in your field while also strengthening your standing in the academic jobs market. Your research will culminate in submitting an integrated thesis, including a presentation, exhibition, publication, reading, performance, screening, or other forms of dissemination. We offer this program in partnership with the esteemed Liverpool John Moores University, our accrediting institution.
Upcoming summer intensives—Berlin, Documenta 15, Liverpool
In July 2022, Transart will welcome incoming MFA and PhD students, continuing PhDs and alumni to join us for a Micro-residency visiting the 12th Berlin Biennale, curated by artist Kader Attia and Documenta 15 curated by Jakarta-based collective Ruangrupa. From there, we will spend two weeks in Liverpool connecting with local art communities and getting to know LJMU researchers, faculty, research labs and institutional partners.
Nomadic low-residency
Attend residencies in New York, Liverpool, Berlin or Mexico City. Online monthly intensives; peer research clusters; crit groups and engagement with international faculty, guests and advisors. Connect with LJMU’s Exhibition Research Lab, City Lab, Experimental Technologies Lab and Contemporary Art Lab, the Liverpool Biennial, TATE Liverpool, and more.
Situated research, global community
Exhibit, present, screen, or publish internationally within a global community of peers and publics while also deepening your engagement with your local community: practising, researching, presenting and thinking with the specificity of where you live and work. Transart supports moving towards generative ecologies of knowledge throughout the world, on and offline, away from the traditional model of global art centres.
Expansive, interdisciplinary approach
Transart creative researchers think and work across and through diverse practices, research constellations, theoretical concerns and ways of knowing. We support innovative research from within and beyond the arts or at the intersection of multiple fields, practices and territories.
Ongoing collaborative possibilities
Transart has been developing a global network of institutions in multiple countries for nearly eighteen years. Students, professors, guests, alumni and advisors have successfully launched sustainable international relationships and projects through shared research, long-standing critique groups, exhibitions, symposia, screenings, publications and performances.
PhD-track one-year MFA
Nourish the field of your practice before delving into doctoral research with the PhD-track one-year MFA in Creative Practice. Identify and articulate your research concerns, hone your PhD research proposal and transition into the doctoral program within a year. Flexible, rigorous, self-directed and expansive, Transart’s MFA supports you to create a sustainable praxis while developing a global community of peers and advisors.
Connect with us
To discuss your goals, the admissions process, course structure or any other questions:
PhD: Dr Michael Bowdidge, Head of Doctoral Studies, bowdidge [at] transart.org or book a zoom conversation with him here.
MFA: Susie Quillinan, Head of Masters Studies , mfa [at] transart.org or book a zoom conversation with her here.
Or, sign up for a final info session here: Saturday, April 9, 2022: 2-3pm UTC / Saturday, April 24, 2022: 2–3pm UTC.
Alternatively, submit an EOI here. The final deadline for both programs is May 1.
For more information please visit the website of organisation.
