03/04/2009 | Newsletter, Arts & Humanities

Art and Design: driving the technological renaissance

By: James Donald

New York University Tisch School of the Arts Asia, located in Singapore, offers a Master of Fine Arts degree in Animation and Digital Arts, Dramatic Writing and Film. In each program, the curriculum is identical to the school’s campus in New York. All instruction is delivered in English. The school opened in 2007. “Earning a Master of Fine Arts degree from our school is challenging and unlike any other post graduate training,” says Josh Murray, Associate Director for Recruitment. “Tisch Asia is a place for students to be creative, to experiment and to take risks. They become critical thinkers, and they have an intense understanding of the industry in which they will work.”

In the second year at Tisch Asia they have students from 20 countries. Many of their applicants are from the US, but Josh has been encouraged by the number of applicants they have received from India, China, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America. “As our enrolment grows, so will our diversity,” he says. “The ability to travel to this part of the world is appealing to adventurous students. And the access to the untold stories of the region is unprecedented for animators, filmmakers and writers. “ Tisch Asia also gives students access to an American arts education based in southeast Asia. Graduates from the US school have won every major industry award according to Josh: “From the Academy Award to the Tony Award and beyond, graduates from Tisch School of the Arts are leaders in
their field.”

It is so very important that applicants take time to articulate their intense interest and passion for the arts."

The admissions process to Tisch Asia, like for many postgraduate art and design courses is competitive, “but we do not require prior experience in the field to apply to our programs. We, in fact, look for applicants with diverse backgrounds,” says Josh. “It is so very important that applicants take time to articulate their intense interest and passion for the arts, and we need to see that applicants are dedicated to a two- or three-year arts education program. The creative portfolio is essential and represents each student, their vision, and indicates to our faculty the potential for success.”

Falmouth also search for a passion for the subject when sifting applicants says Samantha Kirby: “We welcome applications from students with appropriate qualifications, equivalent qualifications, prior learning/experience and a demonstrable interest in the subject.” Application numbers to their MA courses are growing annually, as awareness of the courses grows. In 2007 Falmouth published their first Postgraduate Prospectus which has helped increase awareness and held a number of Postgraduate Open Days and Open Evenings. They are seeing more applicants each year from India, China, Taiwan and the US.

Graduate applicants to the Academy of Art University must include the following standard documents, according to Jeff Chromy: statement of intent; resume; official college transcripts and their portfolio, for placement purposes. “Academy of Art University welcomes anyone who is interest in pursuing an MFA, regardless of skill level. A candidate applying to the MFA or M. Arch. Program, however, may be required to take preparatory classes in advance of entering graduate-level classes.”