Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
This is a site-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to an eclectic range of galleries, from the public to commercial and artist-led spaces - some well-known, some off the beaten track. Sessions will encourage you to look and think critically about art and equip you with the skills and confidence to engage with, and enjoy, contemporary art in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, new media and installation.
A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you a week before the course begins.
Please note: this course is taught by different tutors at different times of the year. Contemporary art spaces change regularly and which ones are visited are dependent on individual tutor scheduling. Each course is completely different from one another.
What will we cover?
· Artists’ techniques, materials and approaches when making their work.
· Specific themes related to each artist’s work.
· The role and impact of how an artist’s work is curated and how a display is constructed.
· How an exhibition space or venue influences the presentation and theme(s) of artworks.
What will I achieve? By the end of this course you should be able to...
· Gain confidence in analysing a range of contemporary artworks by participating in discussions with fellow students and your tutor.
· Develop your visual analytic skills in identifying different media and materials used by artists in the work observed.
· Identify at least two different processes and/or techniques used by the artists discussed.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
This course is suitable for all levels.
You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts, and health and safety information.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
The course will be taught with a mixture of guided gallery visits, group discussion and short group activities. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.
This course uses a Google Classroom to post optional reading & resources in advance of each week. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.
Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Students are expected to pay for their own travel costs to the galleries. You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
Introduction to Tate Britain
Art in Britain since 2000: where are we now
Understanding contemporary art: ideas and origins
Study Day Cutting it Fine: Collage in Modern & Contemporary Art
Francesca Laura Cavallo is a curator, art historian, and Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Indigenous and Settler Colonial Studies at the University of Kent, with whom she organises the annual festival Brazil Footprint oo. Her work combines research and practice to explore how the arts can be mobilised to transform public perceptions and attitudes towards risk, ecology, health and sustainability. She has curated exhibitions and public programmes at the Science and Industry Museum, the Barbican, Turner Contemporary and the ICA; and internationally at Manifesta 11, Zurich; Cabinet, New York; 98 weeks, Beirut, and Andersen Museum in Rome, among others. Cavallo has a PhD in Art History from the University of Kent, where she has taught various courses in Art History, Curating and Aesthetics. Previously, she was a research associate for the Organising Disaster project at Goldsmith and taught at the London College of Communication and Royal College of Art. She has also worked in community development and art-related projects in the UK, US, Italy, Mexico, Portugal, Lebanon and Uruguay.
Chantal CondronSee moreSee less
Chantal Condron is a curator, teacher and writer with a dedicated focus on audienceengagement and enjoyment of art. As the UK Government Art Collection’s first curator of publicengagement, she led education and public programmes at the University of Hull, WhitechapelGallery and Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and delivered art talks at the Britishembassies in Paris, Vienna and Washington DC. She teaches Art History at City Lit, in additionto teaching the subject as part of City Lit’s Ceramics Diploma course. She is also an Art Historytutor for WEA London, and teaches 'A level' Art History to London secondary school students. Chantal has worked widely in the public and private arts sector for nearly 30 years including at Tate, Sotheby's, Visiting Arts, Arts and Business and University of London Library. She holds a BA in 20th century and non-western art from the University of East Anglia; and an MA in Asian art from SOAS, University of London. Author of 'Peter Hedegaard', the first monograph on the London-based Danish abstract artist who exhibited in the 1960s and ‘70s (Rocket Gallery, London, 2019), Chantal continues to contribute commissioned exhibition texts and reviews.
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.
product
https://www.citylit.ac.uk/contemporary-art-in-london154945Contemporary art in Londonhttps://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb155_1_.jpg129129GBPInStock/Courses/vm/Contemporary Culture Courses in London/Courses/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Courses/Culture, history & humanities/Art history/Galleries, collecting & curating/Courses/vm/Courses to do around London17172285113611771892167812285165311771136Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture. This is a gallery-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to a range of galleries, from public to commercial and artist-led spaces. Sessions focus on how to read and understand contemporary art exhibitions in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, video art and installation.<br />
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A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you at the start of the course.84.83087526Contemporary art in London179179https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb155_1__19.jpgInStockDaytimeFriOff SiteAvailable courses5-10 weeksWeekday2027-04-23T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allApr 2027Culture, history & humanitiesVB157179179Contemporary art in London143116179Chantal Condroncontemporary-art-in-london/vb157-2627Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.0000-Available|2027-04-23 00:00:00This is a site-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to a range of galleries, from the public to commercial and artist-led spaces. Sessions focus on how to read and engage with contemporary art exhibitions in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, new media and installation. <br><br>A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you a week before the course begins.Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.-Artists’ techniques, materials and approaches when making their work. <br><br>-Specific themes related to each artist’s work. <br><br>-The role and impact of how an artist’s work is curated and how a display is constructed. <br><br>-How an exhibition space or venue influences the presentation and theme(s) of artworks.By the end of this course you should be able to: <br><br>-Gain confidence in analysing a range of contemporary artworks by participating in discussions with fellow students and your tutor. <br><br>-Develop your visual analytic skills in identifying different media used by artists in the work observed. <br><br>-Identify at least two different processes and/or techniques used by the artists discussed.<p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts, and health and safety information. To access supplemental materials, like handouts and suggested readings, students should be willing to access the shared Google Classroom. For more information on the Google Classroom, please <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11278019338525-What-is-Google-Classroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>. </p><p>You will be taught with lecture and discussion around and within gallery spaces and some handouts.</p><p>This course uses a Google Classroom to post optional reading & resources in advance of each week. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.<br><br>This course takes place offsite in galleries around London. Offsite courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group, gallery closures or fire alarms. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between buildings), you will need to be able to walk between sites and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to seating offsite.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in offsite.</p>Art in Britain 1950-2000 - ‘This is Tomorrow’ (Part 2)<br>Introduction to Tate Modern<br>Introduction to Tate Britain.Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingvirtual3106921Contemporary art in London129129https://www.citylit.ac.uk/media/catalog/product/v/b/vb155_1__20.jpgInStockDaytimeTueOff SiteAvailable courses1 to 4 weeksWeekday2027-01-12T00:00:00+00:00Beginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allJan 2027Culture, history & humanitiesVB180129129Contemporary art in London10384129Francesca Cavallocontemporary-art-in-london/vb180-2627Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.0000-Available|2027-01-12 00:00:00<p>This is a site-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to an eclectic range of galleries, from the public to commercial and artist-led spaces - some well-known, some off the beaten track. Sessions will encourage you to look and think critically about art and equip you with the skills and confidence to engage with, and enjoy, contemporary art in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, new media and installation.<br><br>A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you a week before the course begins.<br><br><strong>Please note</strong>: this course is taught by different tutors at different times of the year. Contemporary art spaces change regularly and which ones are visited are dependent on individual tutor scheduling. Each course is completely different from one another.</p>Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.· Artists’ techniques, materials and approaches when making their work.<br><br>· Specific themes related to each artist’s work.<br><br>· The role and impact of how an artist’s work is curated and how a display is constructed.<br><br>· How an exhibition space or venue influences the presentation and theme(s) of artworks.· Gain confidence in analysing a range of contemporary artworks by participating in discussions with fellow students and your tutor.<br><br>· Develop your visual analytic skills in identifying different media and materials used by artists in the work observed.<br><br>· Identify at least two different processes and/or techniques used by the artists discussed.This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts, and health and safety information.The course will be taught with a mixture of guided gallery visits, group discussion and short group activities. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.<br><br>This course uses a Google Classroom to post optional reading & resources in advance of each week. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date. <br><br>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.Students are expected to pay for their own travel costs to the galleries. You might wish to purchase a notebook for taking notes.<ul><li>Introduction to Tate Britain</li><li>Art in Britain since 2000: where are we now</li><li>Understanding contemporary art: ideas and origins</li><li>Study Day Cutting it Fine: Collage in Modern & Contemporary Art</li></ul>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingvirtual143,103179,129116,84VB157,VB180NONEFri,Tue12/01/27 - 26/01/2715:00 - 17:3015:0017:303 sessions (over 3 weeks)35-10 weeks,1 to 4 weeksWeekdayOSOff SiteChantal Condron,Francesca CavalloBeginners, Some experience, Advanced, Suitable for allAvailable courses2027-04-23T00:00:00+00:00,2027-01-12T00:00:00+00:00DaytimeApr 2027,Jan 2027Culture, history & humanities129179,129Contemporary art in Londoncontemporary-art-in-london/vb157-2627,contemporary-art-in-london/vb180-2627Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.0000-Available|2027-01-12 00:00:00This is a site-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to a range of galleries, from the public to commercial and artist-led spaces. Sessions focus on how to read and engage with contemporary art exhibitions in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, new media and installation. <br><br>A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you a week before the course begins.,<p>This is a site-based course which aims to explore London’s contemporary art scene through visits to an eclectic range of galleries, from the public to commercial and artist-led spaces - some well-known, some off the beaten track. Sessions will encourage you to look and think critically about art and equip you with the skills and confidence to engage with, and enjoy, contemporary art in a range of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture, new media and installation.<br><br>A full list of meeting places will be emailed to you a week before the course begins.<br><br><strong>Please note</strong>: this course is taught by different tutors at different times of the year. Contemporary art spaces change regularly and which ones are visited are dependent on individual tutor scheduling. Each course is completely different from one another.</p>Explore and discuss contemporary art on show in London. Each week we’ll visit 1-2 commercial galleries or a public gallery and examine specific exhibitions of contemporary art across a range of media including painting, works on paper, photography, new media and sculpture.-Artists’ techniques, materials and approaches when making their work. <br><br>-Specific themes related to each artist’s work. <br><br>-The role and impact of how an artist’s work is curated and how a display is constructed. <br><br>-How an exhibition space or venue influences the presentation and theme(s) of artworks.,· Artists’ techniques, materials and approaches when making their work.<br><br>· Specific themes related to each artist’s work.<br><br>· The role and impact of how an artist’s work is curated and how a display is constructed.<br><br>· How an exhibition space or venue influences the presentation and theme(s) of artworks.By the end of this course you should be able to: <br><br>-Gain confidence in analysing a range of contemporary artworks by participating in discussions with fellow students and your tutor. <br><br>-Develop your visual analytic skills in identifying different media used by artists in the work observed. <br><br>-Identify at least two different processes and/or techniques used by the artists discussed.,· Gain confidence in analysing a range of contemporary artworks by participating in discussions with fellow students and your tutor.<br><br>· Develop your visual analytic skills in identifying different media and materials used by artists in the work observed.<br><br>· Identify at least two different processes and/or techniques used by the artists discussed.<p>This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts, and health and safety information. To access supplemental materials, like handouts and suggested readings, students should be willing to access the shared Google Classroom. For more information on the Google Classroom, please <a href="https://help.citylit.ac.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/11278019338525-What-is-Google-Classroom" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">click here</a>. </p>,This course is suitable for all levels.<br><br>You should be able to follow simple written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, handouts, and health and safety information.<p>You will be taught with lecture and discussion around and within gallery spaces and some handouts.</p><p>This course uses a Google Classroom to post optional reading &amp; resources in advance of each week. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date.<br><br>This course takes place offsite in galleries around London. Offsite courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group, gallery closures or fire alarms. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between buildings), you will need to be able to walk between sites and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to seating offsite.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in offsite.</p>,The course will be taught with a mixture of guided gallery visits, group discussion and short group activities. Handouts will be provided by your tutor to support your learning on the course.<br><br>This course uses a Google Classroom to post optional reading &amp; resources in advance of each week. You will be sent an invitation to join the Google Classroom within a week of the course start date. <br><br>Museum/gallery-based courses take place during public access hours. Tutors are not able to control sound levels or behaviours of visitors outside of the course group. Unless you are a wheelchair user, and have confirmed access details with us (as levels of access can vary between galleries), you will need to be able to walk between exhibits and stand for some time while looking at them (you may bring your own portable stool if you have one, but we cannot guarantee access to any gallery stools.) If you feel you may be impacted by these environmental variations, please inform the department on humanities@citylit.ac.uk before the course begins, to discuss reasonable accommodations we can make to assist your learning in the museum space.Art in Britain 1950-2000 - ‘This is Tomorrow’ (Part 2)<br>Introduction to Tate Modern<br>Introduction to Tate Britain.,<ul><li>Introduction to Tate Britain</li><li>Art in Britain since 2000: where are we now</li><li>Understanding contemporary art: ideas and origins</li><li>Study Day Cutting it Fine: Collage in Modern &amp; Contemporary Art</li></ul>Art historyGalleries, collecting & curatingconfigurable
