In January 2004 the first cohort of MA in Visual Arts Practices (MAVIS) students commenced their studies at the Institute of Art, Design & Technology. MAVIS was initially offered as a 60 credit programme, completed over two years (part-time) or one year (full-time). Taught primarily off campus, in venues such as the LAB (2008-2014) and Studio 6, Temple Bar Gallery + Studios (2004-2008), the programme followed an unconventional January to December calendar, with pathways in art-making, criticism and curating. In February 2012 the programme was revised, becoming a 120 credit, two-year full-time programme only.

The MAVIS programme emphasized the importance of real-world learning experience and offered six modules delivered through a combination of taught lectures and workshops (Curatorial Seminar; Contemporary Practice; Critical Writing; Live Project, Practice-led Research and Major Project) together with tutorials, group critiques and independent study. Students participated in international study trips, engaged with high profile visiting lecturers and developed work for a biannual symposium and an annual research collaboration event, open to the public.

During its ten year history, MAVIS made a very significant contribution to the professionalisation and internationalisation of contemporary art in Ireland, with highly committed staff and students that included accomplished artists, curators and critics, as evidenced by the list of prominent MAVIS alumni. The ARC programme builds upon the achievements of MAVIS staff and graduates and an Alumni Network has been formed to provide ongoing opportunities for dialogue and exchange between ARC and MAVIS graduates.

MAVIS programme directors

Maeve Connolly, Finola Jones, Gerard Mermoz, Amanda Ralph, Mick Wilson.

Lecturers:

Sarah Browne, Vaari Claffey, Valerie Connor, Gary Coyle, Tessa Giblin, Sinead Hogan, Jaki Irvine, Sean Lynch, Niamh O’Malley, Matt Packer, Sarah Pierce.

External examiners and experts

Maxine Kopsa, Francis McKee, Leigh Markopoulos, Bartholomew Ryan, Terry Shave.

Visiting lecturers

Bart De Baere
Orla Barry
Fern Bayer
Dave Beech
Jesse Bercowetz
Rebecca Birch
Claire Blackett
David Blamey
Iwona Blazwick
Nicolas Bourriaud
Jason E. Bowman
Matt Bua
Roger M. Buergel
Gerard Byrne
Sophie Byrne
Tara Byrne
Paolo Caffoni
David Carrier
Justin Carville
Pip Chodorov
Adam Chodzko
Carolyn Christov-Bakargiev
Declan Clarke
Alex Coles
Ana Paula Cohen
Sarah Cook
Celine Condorelli
Valerie Connor
Caoimhin Corrigan
Cosmin Costinas
Eamonn Crudden
Colin Darke
Pip Day
Jeremy Deller
Aoife Desmond
Vivienne Dick
Brian Dillon
Claire Doherty
Oliver Dowling
Eugene Downes
Brendan Early
James Elkins
Clodagh Emoe
Mike Fitzpatrick
Annie Fletcher
Joan Fowler
Aurelien Froment
Maria Fusco
Jochen Gerz
Liam Gillick
Paula Gilligan
Sarah Glennie
David Godbold
Caroline Hancock
Brian Hand
Ciara Healy
Paul Hedge
Darragh Hogan
John Hutchinson
Georgina Jackson
Jesse Jones
Enrique Juncosa
Fiona Kearney
Noel Kelly
Jay Koh
Maxine Kopsa
Pil & Galia Kollectiv
Nicola Lees
Nevan Lehart
Achim Lengerer
Pippa Little
Declan Long
Marian Lovett
Sean Lynch
David Mabb
Caoimhín Mac Giolla Léith
Rachel Maclean
Leif Magne Tangen
Alice Maher
Raimundas Malašauskas
Alex Martinis-Roe
Catherine Morris
Julian Myers
Ian Mitton
Paul McAree
Mary McCarthy
Ronan McCrea
Dennis McNulty
Eoghan McTigue
Jonas Mekas
Akiko Miyake
Pádraic Moore
Tom Moylan
Hugh Mulholland
Tone Olaf Nielsen
Mike Nelson
Isabel Nolan
Harold Offeh
Mark O’Kelly
Claire O’Leary
Marguerite O’Molloy
Paul O’Neill
Anna O’Sullivan
Sean O’Sullivan
Garrett Phelan
Alan Phelan
Bronwyn Platten
Aisling Prior
Linda Quinlan
Andrew Renton
Donna Romano
Eva Rothschild
Joanna Shepard
David Sherry
David Smith
Cherry Smyth
Tim Stott
Adam Sutherland
Anne Tallentire
Rachel Thomas
Maura Tierney
Anton Vidokle
Grant Watson
John C. Welchman
Richard West
M J Whelan
Oonagh Young