During tumultuous times, students in the Master of Arts Photography program at Photography Studies College (PSC) have been working towards their goals of publishing and exhibiting their work in Australia and internationally.
The secret of this success, PSC Dean of Studies Daniel Boetker-Smith said, is that the program continues to deliver real-world industry opportunities and expand the reach of student’s work on a global scale.
‘One of the things we identified is that people doing a Masters in Australia feel as though they want to be connected to what’s going on internationally,’ he said. ‘Particularly with photography, it is really important that students are locating or negotiating their work in the context of an international photography scene – that’s across Asia as well as Europe and America.’
Delivered by Australia’s only specialist photographic institution, the Masters program spans 18 months with a flexible schedule of seminars, workshops, and portfolio reviews.
A key feature of this course sees each student undertake an intensive mentorship with an experienced artist, photographer, curator, or publisher. Hailing from all over the world, PSC’s mentors include some of the biggest names in the sector including: Kazuma Obara (Japan), Jesse Marlow (Australia), Joanna Piotrowska (Poland), Noemie Goudal (France), Jan Rosseel (Belgium), Katrin Koenning (Australia), Felicity Hammond (UK), Jack Latham (UK), Stacy Mehrfar (USA), and many others.
‘It is these international connections which enable them to think about how their work sits in a wider context and hopefully it gets pushed out there as well and creates opportunities for them,’ Boetker-Smith said. ‘The Masters is focused on how to go out and get work. We focus on building networks and really thinking about planning the next stage of their careers.’
Boetker-Smith says the program is unique in that it offers classes delivered face-to-face or remotely. The structure of the program allows students to focus their ideas quickly and is designed to fit alongside other commitments.
After working in arts and teaching, Masters Alumni Wendy Catling embarked on the Masters to pursue her creative impulse in photography and further her career into publishing and exhibiting. ‘The small scale of the college, the close relationships within it and opportunities for learning came to be crucial to my success, as someone starting post-grad studies later in life.’
The lecturers on the Master of Arts Photography program include photographer, curator, and expert on Japanese photography Dr Kristian Haggblom; 2018 Bowness Photography Prize winner Dr Hoda Afshar; Dr David Rosetzky who has taught internationally at the Monash University Prato Centre (Italy) and the Glasgow School of Art; co-founder of Moonlight Cinema Adelaide and Kings ARI, Brie Trenerry; publisher and editor Dan Rule; and photography writer and curator Daniel Boetker-Smith.
This unique course is designed for creatives across a wide array of experience and career paths where a degree in photography is not a prerequisite.
Among the current cohort are students based in Singapore, Sydney, Kuwait, and Melbourne who are all exploring the full spectrum of image-based production and creativity. ‘Our students are thinking about photobooks, exhibitions, multimedia, journalism, curating, project management, publishing, and academia as career paths,’ Boetker-Smith said. ‘It’s a diverse mix’.
To apply or find out more, send an enquiry via the Photography Studies College website and they’ll be in touch to discuss your enquiry.
