Contemporary Art Academy

Contemporary Art Academy is an online art educational initiative offering courses to practicing artists, co-founded by Zavier Ellis & Mathew Gibson.  

CRIT PROGRAMME | EMILY STEER _06 | WED 10 SEPT | 10:00

Start Date: 10 September 2025
Time: Wednesdays @ 10:00 BST | 05:00 ET | 02:00 PT
Duration: 4 weeks
Location: Online
Fee: £95
Capacity: 8
Interest-free instalment payments available with Klarna


Course Description

CRIT PROGRAMME is an intensive 4-week course for artists who want to receive incisive analysis and feedback on their practice in a critically supportive online environment. Led by prominent contemporary artists drawn from our award-winning Faculty, each cohort is capped at eight participants—ensuring depth of analysis and individual attention. The programme offers artists a unique opportunity to evolve their practice, gain insight into the Lead Artist’s critical approach, and form powerful peer bonds that extend beyond the course. Open to all disciplines and artists at any stage of their career, CRIT PROGRAMME is designed to be revisited — artists are encouraged to return for future cycles with different tutors, or with new work. 

“Really enjoyed the course, it has brought renewed focus and confidence to my practice” Caroline Killoury 

TIMETABLE

Wednesday 10:00-11:30-Introductions followed by 40-minute Lead Artist Talk on own practice. Open question session
Wednesday 10:00-12:00-1-2-1 Crit with Lead Artist. 20-minute individual tutorial with Lead Artist
Wednesday 10:00-12:00-Peer Led Group Crits. 15-minute artist led group crits facilitated by a moderator in a cohort of 8
Wednesday 10:00-12:00-Tutor Led Group Crits. Each artist has 15-minutes to discuss their work with peers and Lead Tutor

CRIT PROGRAMME includes: 

  • Talk from Lead Tutor on own practice 
  • Open question group discussion  
  • Moderated peer group crit
  • Individual 1-2-1 crit with Lead Tutor
  • Group crit with Lead Tutor  and peers 
  • Peer group chat forum 

CRIT PROGRAMME is for: 

  • Practicing artists
  • Those working in all contemporary art disciplines
  • All nationalities (sessions conducted in English)
  • Art College graduates and self-taught artists
  • Ages 18+ and at any stage in their careers

LEAD TUTOR: Emily Steer

Emily Steer is a London-based arts and culture journalist. She was online editor and then editor of pioneering biannual art magazine Elephant for eight years, and has written for titles including the New York Times, Telegraph, Wallpaper, i-D, AnOther, Vice, Grazia, Marie Claire and Time Out. In her time as a journalist, she has interviewed industry leading artists including Marina Abramović, Tim Walker, David Bailey and Theaster Gates. She has appeared on BBC shows Front Row and The Art of Now and hosted panel discussions for institutions such as The Royal Academy and The Arts Club.

Register Below

  • We are able to offer refunds and postponements only up until registration is full
  • Any questions about this course? Please visit FAQs or email office@contemporaryartacademy.com
  • Ready to enrol? Register above, save username & password, then hit SUBMIT to proceed to purchase
  • Course full? Timings wrong? Join CRIT PROGRAMME waiting list here
  • Interest-free instalment payments available with Klarna