Contemporary Performative Arts, Master of Fine Arts
Summary
This programme is designed for artists who want to develop their performative practice in a critical and creative environment. The focus lies on the artistic process and its relation to art and social contexts. As a student, you will try various perspectives and challenge your practice through interactions with teachers, fellow students, guest artists and experts from other fields. You apply with an investigative project that you develop critically through the entire programme.
About
Official name: Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with Specialisation in Contemporary Performative Arts
This programme accepts new students every two years. Next time to apply is between December 2025 and January 2026, with studies beginning autumn 2026.
Genre-crossing and exploratory creative processes
The master’s programme in Contemporary Performative Arts is aimed at those who are interested in working performatively in interdisciplinary expressions and styles in non-traditional venues. A recurring focus is the process of working in an investigative project, critically examining the complex context of performative work and challenging the performer-spectator relationship. The main focus is your investigative project which you develop through various perspectives, such as contemporary dramaturgies, performative and critical writing, as well as social aspects of site and space. You will immerse yourself in your own and others’ artistic methods, reflect on the role of the performative arts in a genre-crossing context, and place your specific practice in relation to other artistic expressions.
Performative, interdisciplinary and collaborative
The programme is characterized by a cross-disciplinary environment where students and teachers come from different performative fields such as sound-art, contemporary theatre, dance, choreography and composition. The programme aspires to create a genre-crossing, critical and creative environment where fellow students, staff and visiting lecturers offer critical and creative input, enabling the students to develop their practices. The Academy of Music and Drama provides a platform for meetings and collaborations with students in other programmes in both the areas of theatre and music. Artists, theoreticians and dramaturges working in Sweden as well as internationally, teach on the programme. The programme collaborates with other universities, institutions, independent groups, platforms, and performing artists both locally and internationally.
An in-depth exploration and development of your ideas
A central part of the programme consists of your investigative project. A key element of working with your project is dedicated to the relationship between critical and performative ways of writing in relation to the methods and practices that you develop. Within the framework of this course, you have a great deal of freedom to test new ideas and reflect on your choices. Through individual supervision, seminars, workshops, and lab forums, your project is regularly processed in feedback sessions and critique seminars along with fellow students and teachers. The programme has a strong connection with artistic research in the field, for example through regular interactions with the research school at the Artistic Faculty.
How to apply
Timeline, admission test and other important information.
Staff
Click here to view staff at the programme Contemporary Performative Arts
The Academy of Music and Drama
This programme is offered at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, Sweden. Find out more about the academy.
Programme structure and content
The first year challenges your investigative project with new perspectives and angles of approach, such as reflecting on your own practice in relation to methods of contemporary dramaturgy, the surrounding community and reflective writing.
The second year enhances your project and increases your knowledge of academic, critical and artistic writing. You will place your project in relation to various aspects of space, site and context and develop sustainable ways to practice and communicate your art.
Who should apply?
Are you an artist active in contemporary theatre, dance, choreography, musical drama, or sound art, wanting to focus on the artistic process?
Do you want to develop your practice through genre-crossing, exploratory and critical processes?
Do you want to learn from teachers and fellow students active in a variety of artistic fields?
If so, you are welcome to apply for the master’s programme in Contemporary Performative Arts with a draft of an investigative project.
Prerequisites and selection
Entry requirements
Bachelor of arts degree in fine arts or equivalent, as well as knowledge and skills in performing arts that are assessed at the admission test and are the basis for selection. Professional experience in theatre, physical performance, live art, dance, music drama or sound art is a requirement. Applicants must prove their knowledge of English: English 6/English B from Swedish Upper Secondary School or the equivalent level of an internationally recognized test, for example TOEFL, IELTS. Other entry requirements are documented in the respective course syllabus.
Special instructions for application
Here you will find detailed information about the entrance exams for Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts with Specialisation in Contemporary Performative Arts.
More information about Special instructions for application
Selection
Selection of eligible applicants is based upon admission tests. Information about the admission tests can be found at the home page of the Academy of Music and Drama.
After graduation
Graduates of the programme receive the degree Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Performative Arts.
Facilities
The Academy of Music and Drama operates from four locations in Gothenburg: Eklandagatan 86, Åvägen 24 (Brewhouse), Vasagatan 50 (HDK-Valand) and Triörgatan 1 (Andra stället).
