The Other MA (TOMA) is a 12 month alternative art education model, set up by practicing artists and based at Metal Art School in Southend-on-Sea. It is a response to the fact that many artists who wish to continue their learning and critical discourse with peers are unable to access most current MA provisions for a number of reasons - time, cost, work or family commitments.

TOMA will be a space for artists to work and develop their practice within a critical framework for postgraduate level. It will be unaccredited in the traditional sense, but will provide a programme of learning that will benefit the practice of artists in the same way. Designed to fit the everyday lives of contemporary working artists, it will be affordable to attend, with £40 per month to pay which will go directly and wholly towards paying for visiting artists, lecturers, practical workshops, a personal tutor, offsite projects and exhibitions.

TOMA will offer an alternative, and affordable, model of postgraduate art education in Essex. It should give local artists the opportunity to take part in postgraduate style study, no matter their financial situation.

If you are interested in alternative models of art education please check out www.toma-art.com where there is more info. You can also apply through the website there.

Applications close on March 30th. There will be an open day for interested artists on March 17th at Metal Art School from 10am - 6pm.