The International MFA program at China Academy of Art has been developed in response to the rapidly increasing globalization of the art world. In the past two decades, the world has seen the rapid expansion of art and ideas beyond old boundaries and obsolete cultural constructs. Today, artists from throughout the world – particularly China – are emerging as the seminal artists of their times. Throughout the 20th Century the world's most famous and most highly valued artists have been almost exclusively from Europe and America. In the past 15 years, the East Asian art scene has exploded with numerous new major museums of both traditional and contemporary art being built throughout China. The de-decentralization of the art world has already taken place. The advent of digital venues for the dissemination and discussion of new art has also eliminated the nexus between art and nationality. The ascendency of non-European art and artists has profoundly altered the ways in which young and emerging artists throughout the world must be educated.

 The mission of International MFA program (IMFA) at China Academy of Art (CAA) is to introduce the world’s most promising young artists to a new world of contemporary art – an art world in which the creative and expressive practices from around the world join together to create art that is as vital and innovative as the contemporary world itself.  Faculty and students from Asia, Europe, the Mid-East, Africa, Oceania and the Americas provide a new vision to join in this bold new program.

 The IMFA curriculum explores the newly emerging paradigms of relationality, multi-culturalism, social practice and extended media that have defined the world’s most exciting contemporary art for the past quarter of a century. It also considers the traditional creative practices of a variety of cultural traditions specifically in studio art, public art, and contemporary arts theory. This bold new approach to cross-cultural art education includes art and science, technology and economics, in addition to the traditional disciplines of history, theory, design and studio practice. Traditional and contemporary ideas about aesthetic philosophy, cultural perspective, curatorial practice and social relevance are at the heart of the IMFA curriculum.

The core of our curriculum is the relationship between international students and faculty – the community who comprise the IMFA program. We form an active and vital community of artists dedicated to a new vision of world art. The IMFA takes maximum advantage of the re-location of its students into a new cultural identity which explores the realities of life in a world where they suddenly become ‘the other’. It provides a situation where new forms of communication and exchange re-create identity and the concept of cultural relevance and creativity. Deep interpersonal relationships and increased cultural awareness form a nucleus for robust exploration of important new ideas. The spectacle of culture becomes the foundation for innovation and creative life. From that core experience, new ideas about culture and meaning will fuel the creative furnace that forges radical new concepts and extensions of ancient traditions into present-day artistic practices. Required courses in Chinese language and culture not only extend IMFA students'familiarity with new cultural ideas, but also enable fist-hand dialogue with Chinese artists as well as CAA faculty and staff.

 GENERAL INFORMATION

The China Academy of Art is one of China’s oldest and most prestigious art colleges.  CAA has three campuses – one in Shanghai, and the two main campuses in Hangzhou.  All campuses include state of the art facilities – studios, digital access, libraries, museums and galleries as well as comfortable and well appointed student housing. The combined enrollment of CAA campuses is currently around 12,000 including graduate and undergraduate students from all over China, and around the world.  The main CAA campuses (Nan Shan and Xiang Shan) are located in Hangzhou, often cited as China’s most beautiful city – famous for art, tea and silk. Hangzhou is located approximately 125 kilometers southwest of Shanghai, putting CAA in easy reach of Shanghai’s world class cultural and technological institutions.  Graduates of the China Academy of Art are among China’s leading artists and are currently very active internationally.

 FACILITIES

IMFA students have access to modern and well equipped studio spaces supporting students’ art work in virtually every studio discipline. Access to up-to-date digital equipment and software ensures that IMFA students are able to fully interact with the current leading edge technologies which are re-defining art and culture around the world.  State of the art digital labs and fabrication equipment ensure students have the capability to develop new ideas and technologies in cooperation with leading international faculty and in art, technology and design. Lecture and discussion spaces are digitally equipped with world-wide links for conferencing and exchange of images and ideas. Students are assigned to individual studio work areas consistent with their needs and interests.

 COMPLETING THE IMFA PROGRAM

The IMFA is a three-year residential program. There are no part-time or limited residency students.  For the first year, portfolios are expected to show a focused body of advanced art work that demonstrates skill, creativity and conceptual ability. In order to advance to candidacy for the IMFA degree, portfolios must reflect a technically and conceptually sophisticated body of work suitable for exhibition in a professional venue.  In the first year students are encouraged to experiment with new and innovative genres of art in addition to the areas with which they have been previously involved. New philosophical and conceptual perspectives are introduced and integrated into each student’s artistic development. Students receive comprehensive reviews and critiques at the end of each semester. After the first year, each student is reviewed and evaluated by the faculty to determine their suitability for further study – advancement to candidacy.  The final two years of the program are spent honing and resolving the artwork until it represents a truly innovative and professionally accomplished body of artwork. Students are awarded the Master of Fine Arts Degree from China Academy of Art, upon the successful completion of all required courses and presentation of final artwork and written thesis.

LANGUAGE

All classes required for IMFA students, are conducted in English or are simultaneously translated into English by CAA’s professional translation staff. No prior knowledge of Chinese language is required for admission. Fluency in English is assumed for all entering IMFA students regardless of national origin. All applicants from non-English speaking countries must submit results from either TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Since proficiency in English is a prerequisite for acceptance, applicants must attain an acceptable score on either test; IMFA requires a minimum result of 90 on the TOEFL or 6.5 on IELTS.

LIVING AT CHINA ACADEMY OF ART

The dormitory facilities at CAA are clean and modern. Students receive semi-private accommodation with shared bathroom facilities. Students in the IMFA live in the foreign student dorm but share dining facilities with all CAA students – graduate and undergraduate. Food is generally traditional Chinese fare. The cafeteria style facility is in the same building as the Foreign Student Dormitory. Classes will be offered on both the Nan Shan and Xiang Shan campuses – about 20 km apart. CAA Provides regular shuttle busses between the two campuses.  Convenient and inexpensive public transportation is also available. There are innumerable private restaurants nearby the Hangzhou campus representing a variety of ethnic tastes – including a variety of International fast food chains. The Nan Shan campus is located near the beautiful West Lake – surrounded by exquisite parks, gardens and restaurants.  It is one of Chinas premier tourist destinations. The IMFA students interact frequently with the larger CAA student body including both graduate and undergraduate programs. Chinese students are famous for their friendliness, curiosity and the intensity of their commitment to learning. One of the oldest axioms of education is, ‘students often learn more from each other than from their teachers.

• Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good health.
• Applicants for master's degree studies must have bachelor's degree
• Age under 55 years old
• TOEFL 90; IELTS 6.5

"*" means necessary documents that you must provide in your application.

*1. Application Form

Please upload your finished application form here

2. Passport photo

A recent passport-sized photo of the applicant

3. Photocopy of valid passport

With name, passport number & expiration date, and photo included

4. Health certificate

Photocopy of notarized foreigner physical examination record (for durations of study over 6 months)

5. English proficiency test certificate

For example, IELTS or TOEFL, only for applicant whose native language is not English.

6. Academic transcript of highest education

7. Related art performance or art works

8. Letter of recommendation

From professor or associate professor or equivalents

9. Personal Statement

Personal Statement with the applicant's signature, written in Chinese or in English.

*10. Physical examination record for foreigner

Physical examination record for foreigner

11. Financial Supporter's work certification or Income proof

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