Master of Fine Arts

In recognizing a need for a “school of vision” Léo Marchutz had in mind an affirmative eye-opening educational experience for students. Encouraging them to open their eyes to what Oskar Kokoschka called “the miracle of the visible world”. The open eye is the foundation; it is a principle, or better still, a habit, related to the belief that the artist’s task is to make us feel, to make us see. Especially for the painter, art begins with the open eye.

A Different Kind of MFA

The American College of the Mediterranean is proud to offer a two-year MFA degree program in painting in Aix-en-Provence, France. The 60-credit program is conducted in English and accepts artists of diverse interests and backgrounds. The program combines daily studio work, seminars, museum studies, field studies throughout Europe, and professional internship opportunities.

Mission

The mission of the MFA program at ACM is to link contemporary artist concerns to a study of the visible world and to give students a cross-cultural viewpoint through extended study in the museums and galleries of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin.

The focus of the MFA Program

• Emphasizes the combination of studio art process with liberal arts learning
• A comparative discipline of observation, perceptual analysis, and extensive museum and art historical study
• Accentuates cross-cultural viewpoints through extended study in the cities, museums, and galleries of Europe and the Mediterranean Basin
• Students form a coherent critical platform and an arts management process by which to present their work
• Integrated apprenticeship courses in studio art education models

MFA Program Overview

ACM's School of Art offers a two-year MFA degree program with a concentration in Painting. The curriculum combines studio practice with liberal arts investigation, critical analysis, museum study, and field study. The 60-credit program, conducted in English, in Aix-en-Provence, France, culminates in a Thesis Project which includes a public presentation of an original body of artwork.

Students work on campus in Aix-en-Provence, France, maintaining a daily open studio practice in their chosen discipline, while concurrently developing independent critical, aesthetic, and art historical research with core faculty advisors. Students are expected to participate in weekly seminars, multi-city field studies, critiques, museum studies, and liberal arts inquiry.

Throughout the program MFA candidates' work is evaluated in peer and faculty critiques as well as by visiting artists. Final evaluation and approval are conducted by the MFA Faculty Committee.

Faculty

ACM faculty is comprised of experts in their fields. Both academics and professionals in their field, ACM faculty provide the MFA the academic depth and the real-life experience necessary for a well-rounded Fine Arts education.

Sample Schedule

Fall Semester – Year 1 (18 Credits)

• Painting I (ART 630, 3 credits)
• Drawing I (ART 501, 3 credits)
• Critical Studies I (ART 509, 3 credits)
• The Masters Forum (ART 515, 3 credits)
• Art History (3 credits)
• French (3 credits)

January Term Elective (3 Credits)

• Traveling Seminar

Spring Semester – Year 1 (15 Credits)

• Painting II (ART 632, 3 credits)
• Drawing II (ART 502, 3 credits)
• Critical Studies II (ART 510, 3 credits)
• Art History (3 credits)
• French (3 credits)

Fall Semester – Year 2 (12 Credits)

• Painting III (ART 633, 6 credits)
• Critical Studies III (ART 511, 3 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)

Spring Semester – Year 2 (12 Credits)

• Painting IV (ART 634, 4 credits)
• Thesis Project, Exhibition (ART 750, 5 credits)
• Elective (3 credits)