Master of Performing Arts

Purpose

The qualification aims to activate the interwoven nature of theory and practice in both the performance and theatre research enterprise. In the pursuit of the mastery of performance, studies prepare graduates for access across a variety of disciplines in the performing arts with opportunities to deepen scholarship in the creative industries as well as professional and vocational practice. Through progressive theoretical precision within the chosen discipline specificity, as well as inter- and multi-disciplinary possibilities, the qualification increasingly improves the empirical reflective and reflexive practices as well as pragmatic, action-based and practice-led modes of enquiry established during the pre-requisite qualifications at National Qualification Framework Level 8. These progressive reflective practices will encourage learners to develop new ways of understanding their work and personal engagement in art practice. It also enables them to recognise how the South African context requires different and innovative ways of working.

The qualified learners will significantly contribute to the production of new knowledge and innovation in the performing arts by generating culturally relevant performing arts research and artefacts. The learners previously established knowledge and awareness of the performing arts as a cultural phenomenon as well as the creative industry's regulations and practices permits the contributions. Processes of integrating discipline-specific and inter-disciplinary competencies connected through indigenous knowledge systems will propel these diversified and multi-dimensional performing artists and technicians towards innovative culturally distinct scholarship and purpose in the performing arts.

Further, through the cultivation of an appreciation of Africanisation in the performing arts industry, learners will be able to:

• Locate theatre and production in local practices.
• Diversify ideas on curating and archival of performances.
• Emphasise African performance history in the sociological context.
• Draw on African literature and research on performance.
• Produce informed, culturally relevant performance products.
• Apply knowledge and practice of local traditions infused with contemporary trends within the creative industries.
• Embrace the entrepreneurship and small business practice in creative industries; and implement viable performing arts-based community enrichment projects.
• Qualified learners of the from this qualification will be able to generate nationally and internationally competitive and innovative contemporary performance products, and apply advanced analytical and critical thinking skills in the performing arts, towards the innovation and management of essential entrepreneurial prospects within the more significant creative industry of the performing arts. Learners will, therefore, pursue a career in academia or establish their vocational career in the industry.

Rationale

The South African Performing Arts industry contribute immensely to the socio-economic growth of the country. Performing arts also contribute to social and cultural capital in the country. Currently, the institution Performing Arts cluster departments offer four independent Master's qualifications - in dance, drama, performing arts technology, and musical theatre. The revised new qualification cut across the current qualifications offered to consolidate them into one multi-disciplinary offering. Learners have the option to do the qualification through compulsory modules (coursework) or a single project that will culminate in the production and acceptance of a dissertation. The qualification will enable learners to continue with inter- and multi-disciplinary study, as well as discipline specificity with intense research, focus within the module Dissertation: Performing Arts. The Master's qualification will give qualified learners the option to continue with the Postgraduate qualification Doctor of Performing Arts.

The National Department of Arts and Culture has previously identified the South African creative industry's need for multi-disciplinary qualifications. Within this qualification, the focus on multi-disciplinarily strives to advance the collective enquiry enhancing shared inherent and inherited knowledge and reflective practices established during the Postgraduate Diploma in Performing Arts.

This consolidated multi- and inter-disciplinary qualification promises to progressively strengthen learners' development of the professional vocational learning community and provide heightened insight into academia.

The qualification is also addressing the national need for plural pedagogy in Higher Education qualification offerings and therefore emphasis has been given to the Africanisation and decolonisation in education. Also, the global trends in performing arts increasingly require graduates who are skilled in a specific area but versatile and cognisant of other aspects of the performing arts. The institution commissioned a faculty-wide qualified learner Survey Improvement Plan in 2014, which showed overwhelming evidence that graduates needed a multi-skilled qualification in order to improve their entrepreneurial skills and employability.

This qualification draws prospective learners from across the Performing Arts sector who would like to improve their qualification and to secure better job allocation and standing. There has been a national drive towards the improvement of qualifications within this sector that not only translates to the academic society but also within the growing industry at large.

As mentioned above, industry needs and expectations integrates into this Master's qualification through the involvement of independent departmental advisory board meetings and industry partners. The various advisory boards in the three departments applauded the initiative and gave it unreserved support. Through the engagements with stakeholders, they validated and documented the partners' contributions. The overarching performing arts sector have not only made an input but have also expressed their full and unreserved support for the new Master's qualification.

This qualification allows for both horizontal and vertical articulation. Vertical articulation can occur with the: Doctor of Performing Arts or other related Doctoral/PhD qualifications. Horizontal articulation can occur with: Masters of Arts in Performing Arts or other related Masters related within the performing arts disciplines (Drama, Dance, Music, and Theatre). Further, the Master's qualification has been benchmarked against and is compatible with, international standards in arts education. The development of multi-disciplinary creative practitioners is unique within the South African national higher education landscape. This uniqueness offers learners the opportunity to also research specificity of disciplines in Dance, Music, or Theatre Arts and Design. The disciplines act as the pillars for inter- and multi-disciplinary research while each draws on research from across all four themes to make profound contributions to our understanding of the world and to enhance performing arts practice, society and the economy.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The structure of this qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) possible. Learners may achieve this qualification in part or entirely through RPL. RPL includes formal, informal and non-formal learning and work experience. RPL follows the institution's policy and procedures and implemented accordingly.

The institution informs learners regarding the RPL processes and provide support and guidance. The mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence carefully. It is not as onerous as to prevent a learner from taking up the RPL option towards qualifying or as an entrance assessment. If the learner can demonstrate competence in the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes implicit for this qualification, the institution assigns the appropriate credits to the learner.

Entry Requirements

• Bachelor of Arts Honours in Drama and Theatre Arts, NQF Level 8.

Or

• Postgraduate Diploma in Music Performance, NQF Level 8.

This qualification consists of the following compulsory modules at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 Credits or a compulsory dissertaton at NQF Level 9 totalling 180 credits.

Compulsory Modules, 180 Credits.

• Performance Studies, 45 Credits.
• Embodied Technologies, 45 Credits.
• Research Report, 60 Credits.
• Discipline Advancement, 30 Credits.

OR

Compulsory Module: Level 9.

• Dissertation, 180 Credits.

1. Engage with, identify and critique current performing arts or creative industries research initiatives that will advance scholarship, knowledge and processes of knowledge production; towards contributing to scholarly debates around theories or practice in performing arts or creative industries.
2. Demonstrate the ability to apply discipline specificity, or inter- and multi-disciplinary application of methods, procedures and problem-solving in applied research ways appropriate towards sophisticated performing arts and creative industry requirements.
3. Produce significant insights towards the design and implementation of a strategy for the processing and management of information in order to conduct a comprehensive review of current research in Performing Arts.
4. Communicate and define substantial, independent ideas as products of research, which are relevant to, and contribute to, a current discourse that is considered by peers, and contributes to the discipline, field, or practice.
5. Establish independent learning strategies towards sustained academic or professional development within the performing arts or creative industries.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• Engage with current research initiatives in advanced performing arts or creative industries, identify and critiqued them.
• Identify problems using expertise and critical knowledge at the forefront of the field, evaluate and articulate on them.
• Make contributions to scholarly debates around theories of knowledge and processes of knowledge production in the performing arts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Apply discipline specificity, or inter - and multi-disciplinary application of methods, procedures and problem-solving in applied research ways appropriate towards sophisticated performing arts and demonstrate creative industry requirements.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Produce and demonstrate significant insights towards the design and implementation of a strategy for the processing and management of information in order to conduct a comprehensive review of current research in Performing Arts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Communicate and define Ideas as products of research initiatives and their implementation to specialist and non-specialist audiences using the full resources of an academic/professional, or occupational discourse will be.
• Articulate the use of advanced and specialised skills and discourses appropriate to the Performing Arts.

Associated Assessment Criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• Establish independent learning strategies towards sustained academic or professional development within the performing arts or creative industries.

Integrated Assessment

Performing Arts: Dissertation summative assessment.

The research-orientated nature of the assessment strategy includes a single advanced research project, culminating in the production and acceptance of a dissertation.

The method of assessment for this qualification is research reporting. The qualification predominantly favours reflective, reflexive, and applied enquiry towards learning and research.