Dr. Theo Papatheodorou

Senior Lecturer in Computational Arts

MA/MFA Computational Arts Programme Leader

Director of Postgraduate Studies

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Starting at 14:00 UK time

Computational art:

using code and machines to make art

• very open field
• set to expand enormously in the coming years
• where most exciting developments in technology and in culture are found

Digital art in most art schools

Democratisation

&

Homogeneity

toolmaking

Prison shanks

computational art�examples

course specifics

• course run by computing
• “Learning by doing”
• Course has been growing - we’ve achieved critical mass
• Many alumni lead successful careers
• MA 1 year full time (2 part time) / MFA 2 years full time (4 years part time)�
• Modules
• Workshops in Creative Coding (openFrameworks / C++)
• Computational Arts-based Research and Theory
• Physical Computing (Arduino)
• Programming for Artists and Designers
• Special topics in performance and installation
• Computational Form and Process
• Advanced Audio-Visual Computing
• Natural Computing
• Approaches to play: Mechanics, dynamics, aesthetics
• Data and Machine Learning for Artistic Practice
• Narrative and Interactive Fiction
• Immersive Theatre / designing escape rooms
• Creative VR

Computational Form and Process

summer sessions

• led by Andy Lomas and Prof. Tanaka
• weekly 3-hour sessions
• crit sessions
• industry guests
• visiting artists
• workshops
• pecha-kuchas
• project updates
• exhibition prep-work

artists in residence

Roy Macdonald - art resident #4

Jessica Inn - art resident #3

Howard Melnyczuk - art resident #2

Amy Cartwright - art resident #1

http://echosystems.xyz

2018 degree show

MA/MFA Computational Arts�exhibitions

Popup exhibition and live performances (May 2018)

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APT Gallery exhibition (Feb 2018)

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Degree show (Sept 2017) - details here

Popup exhibition (Jan 2018) - details here

MA/MFA Computational Arts�visiting artists

MA/MFA Computational Arts�Field trips

Berlin Transmediale 2018

Netherlands hackathon 2017

Exhibition / gallery visits

MA/MFA Computational Arts�extracurricular

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• Extracurricular
• Hacksmiths
• Hackathons and Game jams
• Talks
• Conferences

Slide on employability

Students employed on live projects

“The Long Run” by Random Quark and Jesse Wolpert (video here)

Tommy Hilfiger for Fashion Week by Random Quark (details here)

“The Art of Feeling” by Random Quark for Saatchi & Saatchi (details here)

MA vs MFA

• 1^st year of MFA same as MA
• 2^nd year more independent study
• contact is 3 hours every week in 2 modules
• 2 extra courses
• access to labs
• access to all departmental classes
• more info

Affective

computing

sample final projects

sample final projects

sample final projects

sample final projects

My favourite projects�from the last 2 years

Facilities

• State-of-the-art Computer Labs
• Hackerspace / Physical Computing Lab
• Electronic Music Studios
• Cine chamber
• Exhibition space
• Project space

New Hackspace

http://www.gold.ac.uk/computing/people/

MA/MFA staff

Jesse Wolpert

Physical computing

Joe McAlister

Programming for artists and Designers + Machine Learning

Federico Fasce

Approaches to Play

Tim Blackwell�Programming for artists and designers

Becky Aston

Workshops in Creative Coding

Atau Tanaka

Special topics for performance and Installation

Mattia Paganelli

Computational Art Theory

Michael Zbyszyński

Advanced Audiovisual Programming

Federico Fasce

Narrative and Interactive Fiction

Becky Aston�Intro to Virtual Reality

Andy Lomas

Computational Form and Process

Sylvia Pan

Mixed realities

Alan Zucconi�Intro to programming for games

Career paths

• Creative technologists
• Tech-enhanced professionals
• Artists
• Developers
• Teaching / academia
• Phd
• Art Residency

FAQ

Do i need to know how to code?

NO! 70% of our students have never coded when they join the course. Among them we have performers, architects, musicians, filmmakers and even a puppeteer. We take pride in turning people into skilled coders and computational art practitioners.

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Are you still accepting applications?

Yes, we are still actively recruiting!

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What do I need to submit in order to be considered?

A portfolio of work, showing us things you’ve done in your practice (this can be music, film, images and/or text), 1-2 letters of recommendation, a personal statement explaining why you want to join.

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what can you do now?

• write down your name + email
• look at what students make (see earlier slides with links)
• get your portfolio ready or develop one
• apply here: http://doc.gold.ac.uk/comparts
• visit the MA’s blog for news http://doc.gold.ac.uk/compartsblog/
• get in touch with me: theo@gold.ac.uk

link to the MA/MFA

presentation

https://goo.gl/B71Ubq