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 | SAM JACKSON_07 | WED 10 SEPT | 18:00

Start Date: 10 September 2025 
Time: Wednesdays @ 18:00 BST  | 13:00 ET | 10:00 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. 

“Sam was inspirational, simply inspirational, his enthusiasm and love of painting shone through, it was infectious. I now find myself applying for an MA – never thought I was good enough!” Gail Deptford

TIMETABLE

Wednesday 18:00-19:30-Introductions followed by 40-minute Lead Artist Talk on own practice. Open question session
Wednesday 18:00-20:00-Peer Led Group Crits. 15-minute artist led group crits facilitated by a moderator in a cohort of 8
Wednesday 18:00-21:00-1-2-1 Crit with Lead Artist. 20-minute individual tutorial with Lead Artist
Wednesday 18:00-20:00-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 ARTIST: Sam Jackson

Sam Jackson is represented by CHARLIE SMITH LONDON and Galerie Heike Strelow, Frankfurt. He graduated from the Royal Academy Schools, London with a Post-Graduate Diploma Fine Art in 2007 having completed his BA (Hons) in Fine Art at Middlesex University in 2003. Sam has exhibited widely, including Saatchi Gallery, London; The Sainsbury Centre for the Visual Arts, Norwich; Walker Art Museum, Liverpool; Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum, Bournemouth; Dean Clough, Halifax; Galerie Robert Drees, Berlin; Galerie Rigassi, Bern; Koraalberg Contemporary Art Gallery, Antwerp; and Mark Moore Gallery, LA. His work is placed in prominent private collections globally including Javier Baz, Denver; Glen Luchford, New York; David Roberts, London; Sir Norman Rosenthal, London; and Kay Saatchi, Los Angeles. Sam currently teaches MA Painting at Arts University Bournemouth, a course which he co-wrote with artist and Associate Professor Dominic Shepherd.

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