MFA in Artificial Intelligence & Digital Art

Royal College of Art

We are looking for artists who are curious about how Artificial Intelligence is reshaping contemporary culture. Applicants should demonstrate an independent artistic practice, intellectual curiosity and a willingness to experiment with unfamiliar methods. Previous coding experience is welcomed but not essential. We recognise that access to technical education, equipment and technologies is uneven, and applicants are assessed on the quality, criticality and potential of their artistic practice rather than their existing level of technical expertise.

Portfolio requirements

Your portfolio should demonstrate an established artistic practice together with evidence of potential to develop new forms of work in response to emerging technologies and contemporary culture. We are particularly interested in applicants who demonstrate curiosity, originality and the willingness to engage critically with unfamiliar technologies and ideas.

We welcome applications from artists working across all media, including photography, moving image, installation, performance, sculpture, sound, digital media, design, architecture and interdisciplinary practice. Previous experience with Artificial Intelligence or coding is welcomed but is not required.

• You can upload up to five artworks, one in each of the spaces provided.
• The work should be made by you (if collaborative, please indicate and state your contribution), and focus on recent work where possible.
• For each work, submit either image, PDF, video, audio as appropriate, along with a short text with title, date, size, medium and brief description, outlining its context, methods and intentions.
• If you would like to include multiple files for a single artwork please combine them into a PDF as images and/or URLs (add URLs into the description box).

MFA applicants

The MFA second year provides the opportunity to develop a project that engages with a particular context, question or problem. Please describe a context that you would be interested in working with or responding to and the AI related question or problem you would be looking to address.

Personal statement

AiDA is an experimental programme. We value applicants who demonstrate openness to collaboration, curiosity about unfamiliar methods and a willingness to develop their practice through dialogue with others. Your personal statement should explain:

• Your current artistic practice and research interests.
• Why you wish to study Artificial Intelligence & Digital Art at the RCA.
• How your work engages, or might engage, with the cultural, political or artistic questions surrounding AI.
• What you hope to develop through the programme.

Video requirements

Please submit a short video (up to two minutes) introducing yourself and your practice.

Rather than presenting a polished pitch, use this opportunity to discuss:

• Your current artistic practice.
• A project or idea that is particularly important to you.
• Why you are interested in studying Artificial Intelligence & Digital Art.
• A question or challenge relating to AI, technology or contemporary culture that you would like to explore during the programme.