Curriculum

• Workshops and Masterclasses (45 ECTS)

   

  

  Workshops and Masterclasses (45 ECTS)

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  In this module, you will spend the majority of your time in the studio: training, devising, rehearsing, and performing with internationally acclaimed guest artists from across the globe. You will work closely as a company with these leading experts in their creative methods and rehearsal processes, putting real-world experience at the very centre of your learning. It is a practical apprenticeship in the studio, face-to-face with masters from every aspect of performance making, allowing you to develop your craft by collaborating, investigating, experimenting, and performing. As such, you will be expected to show the same level of commitment, creativity, and professionalism that these artists usually demand in their rehearsal room.

  You will reflect critically on your experiences and place your artistic work in the broader theoretical, historical and creative context through reflective journals, small group seminars, and individual tutorials. In this way, you can observe, document, and guide your development as an artist during this very demanding two-year course.

   

  Learning Aims

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  This module aims to immerse students in contemporary performance practice by working alongside internationally acclaimed guest artists. Through intensive studio-based training, devising, rehearsing, and performing, students gain practical, real-world experience. The module emphasises the development of artistic skills through collaboration, experimentation, and engagement, fostering commitment, creativity, and professionalism.

   

  Learning Outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Place their creative work within wider cultural, theoretical, and historical contexts, demonstrating a deep understanding of its cultural significance.
  • Critically assess creative methods and approaches introduced by guest artists, positioning these methodologies within the broader field of contemporary performance.
  • Safely and effectively use various creative, digital, and technical tools to support training, devising, rehearsing, and performing processes.
  • Assess and identify their own strengths and areas for improvement in their artistic practice, recognising the need for continuous professional learning and development.
  • Use independent learning techniques to enhance personal growth and contribute to the collective development of peers through mentoring, teamwork, and collaboration.
  • Demonstrate readiness for professional practice by applying skills and insights gained from immersive studio experiences, advancing their careers as performance artists.

   

  The following courses in this module are compulsory for CPPM students:

  Course Code | Title	ECTS
  CPM001 Contemporary Performance Practices I	15
  CPM002 Contemporary Performance Practices II	15
  CPM003 Contemporary Performance Practices III	15

• Theoretical and Contextual Studies (25 ECTS)

  

  Theoretical and Contextual Studies (25 ECTS)

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  Your practical immersion in the studio will be supported by historical, contextual, and theoretical studies. You will be investigating the historical roots of contemporary performance and their relevance to current artistic practice, with special attention given to trans- and inter-disciplinarity. Simultaneously, you will research current trends in global arts practice, including key personalities, companies, festivals and trends with emphasis on the unique aesthetic, artistic, ideological and socio-political contexts they operate within. 

  In this module, you will be equipped with the tools and strategies for independently growing and managing your career as an artist, including practical project management, sustainability, and applications for funding and festivals. These tools and strategies will assist you to clearly define your artistic vision and ways for its implementation within your chosen field of cultural production.

  You will also have the opportunity to select from a range of electives that encompass numerous creative skill sets, broadening and strengthening your toolkit of abilities as an independent contemporary artist. 

   

  Learning Aims

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  This module aims to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the historical, conceptual, and theoretical foundations of contemporary performance. Students will critically engage with past and current developments, integrating these insights into their creative work. The module emphasises advanced research skills and equips students with entrepreneurial knowledge essential for independent artists, including sustainability, project management, and strategies for securing funding.

   

  Learning Outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Demonstrate a deep understanding of the historical, terminological, conceptual, and theoretical foundations of contemporary performance, and critically integrate these elements into their creative work.
  • Perform comprehensive critical analyses of historical and contextual research to inform their artistic projects, positioning their work within broader theoretical and socio-cultural contexts.
  • Evaluate current developments, major trends, and ongoing discussions in contemporary performance, incorporating these insights into individual and collaborative creative projects.
  • Apply advanced entrepreneurial models, theories, and practices, demonstrating an in-depth understanding of sustainability, project management, and strategic approaches to securing funding and opportunities in cultural production.
  • Exhibit a comprehensive understanding of research methods in theatre and performance—including artistic research—and effectively apply these methods to strengthen the connection between theory and creative practice.
  • Develop and refine relevant research questions using effective tools and methods to design, document, and present creative research within a broader artistic and academic context.

  The following courses in this module are compulsory for CPPM students:   

  Course Code | Title	ECTS
  CPM004 Tracing the Trails of Contemporary Performance	3
  CPM005 Mapping the Field of Contemporary Performance	3
  CPM006 Theatre and Performance Research Methods	6
  CPM008 Practice as Research: Design, Documentation, Presentation	3
  CPM080 Research Paper in Contemporary Performance	5
  CPM009 Artistic Self-Curatorship and Management	5

• Creative Projects (21 ECTS)

  

  Creative Projects (21 ECTS)

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  Your creative stamina will be challenged at every step of your studies. Your experimentations and discoveries will not be confined to the academy’s walls, and you will constantly be creating and testing your work in front of an audience through open classes, internal sharings and various creative projects presented to the public. This gives you the opportunity to share your works-in-progress in front of an audience and receive invaluable feedback. 

  Each term culminates in a creative project with a different focus – allowing you to implement and consolidate the tools and interests stirred through your work with the guest artists. These projects encourage you, as an artist, to experiment boldly and uncompromisingly, while questioning artistic norms and your own preconceptions at every step.

  Term one will have you create and perform several solo projects – Drag, Autobiographical, and Artistic Response to existing material.

  Term two is focussed on the strategies and tools for working as an ensemble, culminating in a devised ensemble piece in collaboration with a guest artist.

  Term three will explore the possibilities of what is “beyond performance” – leaving the traditional theatre venue and looking at transdisciplinary opportunities. 

  All material that you create throughout the course can be added to your artistic portfolio – and used freely for applications and performances following graduation.

   

  Learning Aims

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  This module aims to introduce students to a variety of approaches to artistic practice and provide practical hands-on experience. It seeks to develop their competencies in using diverse training and creative methods to cultivate unique artistic expressions and offers experience in the design, management, and production of artistic projects within inter- and transdisciplinary contexts.

   

  Learning Outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Contextualise their creative practice within broader cultural and artistic contexts, articulating a critical awareness of contemporary performance practices.
  • Forge interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary connections, strategically applying them in their creative processes.
  • Apply acquired skills and knowledge sustainably and strategically, demonstrating innovation, creativity, responsibility, and professional preparedness in artistic projects.
  • Utilise digital and technical tools effectively and safely to support the development, production, and presentation of their artistic work.
  • Independently initiate and lead collaborative international projects, demonstrating initiative, leadership, and creativity, and fostering an environment that encourages innovation and entrepreneurial thinking.
  • Position themselves as innovators and leaders in contemporary performance, generating new directions and demonstrating readiness to work in professional fields requiring specialised skills.

  The following courses in this module are compulsory for CPPM students:

  Course Code | Title	ECTS
  CPM010 Creative Project: Solo Performance	7
  CPM011 Creative Project: Devising Performance	7
  CPM012 Creative Project: Beyond Performance	7

• Elective Courses (14 ECTS)

  

  Elective courses (14 ECTS)

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  This module aims to provide students with opportunities to explore specialised topics within their chosen elective fields, integrating advanced knowledge and skills into their broader artistic and scholarly practice. It encourages students to formulate and pursue individualised learning paths that align with their personal development needs and professional goals, promoting autonomy and strategic vision. Ultimately, the module deepens understanding of how specialised skills and disciplines intersect with and enhance their core field of study, broadening professional, intellectual, and creative perspectives.

   

  Learning outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Articulate a comprehensive and advanced understanding of specialised topics within their chosen elective fields, integrating this knowledge into their broader artistic and scholarly practice.
  • Critically evaluate disciplinary methodologies and theoretical concepts, applying these to enhance their creative and professional expertise.
  • Apply newly acquired specialised skills and theoretical insights to address complex and multifaceted challenges within their artistic practice, demonstrating adaptability and a profound level of expertise.
  • Formulate and pursue individualised learning pathways that align with their specific developmental needs and professional objectives, showcasing autonomy and strategic vision in their educational trajectory.
  • Synthesise and integrate knowledge from elective courses to advance their artistic research and professional development, contributing to a more nuanced and multifaceted creative practice.
  • Demonstrate a sophisticated understanding of how specialised disciplines intersect with and enhance their core field of study, broadening their professional, intellectual, and creative perspectives.

  The following elective courses are available for CPPM students:

  Course Code | Title	ECTS
  Estonian Theatre and Performing Arts*	3
  Creative Writing for Stage and Screen	3
  Special Seminar on Theatre Criticism	3
  Dramaturgy	3
  Advanced Research Methods in Theatre and Performance	3
  New Media and Technology	3
  Scenography: Creating Places and Spaces	3
  Sound Design for Performance	3
  Lighting Design for Theatre and Performance	3
  Teaching Experience in Higher Education	3
  Fundraising, Partnership and Sponsorship	1
  Transmedia Storytelling and Participatory Audiences	3
  From Performance to Action	3
  Dance for Camera	3
  Application of AI in Contemporary Performance	3
  Voice Technique	2
  Vocal Improvisatsion	2
  Pilates	3
  Alexander Technique	2
  Physical Culture	8
  Advanced Estonian Language	3
  Pro-English	3
  Fundamentals of Methods of Research	5
  Estonian Language and Culture	3

• Master's Degree Project (15 ECTS)

  

  Master’s Degree Project (15 ETCS)

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  Term four is entirely dedicated to your final project: the work that you will create as a manifestation of your individual unique artistic vision. This is the capstone project of the course and consists of a substantial artistic research process leading to a public performance. You will start preparing for this at the beginning of the second year and you will be given all-rounded support and mentorship to facilitate this process.

  Your final project will be presented as part of the CPPM Manifestal. This bespoke performance festival is created to provide a platform for CPPM students to present their original works to a broad, international audience. Students have total creative control over their projects, collaborators, and venues and draw attention from several international festivals and companies. Read more about CPPM Manifestal here.

   

  Learning Aims

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  This module aims to enable students to synthesise and apply the diverse knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme by conducting an in-depth artistic process that articulates a cohesive and distinctive creative vision. It develops advanced capabilities in self-evaluation, conceptual analysis, and critical discourse, guiding students to manage an artistic project from conceptualisation to public presentation. The module fosters autonomy while encouraging effective engagement with mentors and collaborators, immersing students in multi-modal performance practices such as writing, directing, performing, and digital dissemination. Emphasising their role as artist-researchers, the module culminates in a public performance that communicates their artistic research outcomes through experimentation, reflection, and critical inquiry.

   

  Learning Outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Conduct an in-depth artistic process synthesising and applying the diverse knowledge and skills acquired throughout the programme, articulating a cohesive and distinctive creative vision.
  • Develop and apply a critical framework for reflecting upon their practice methodologies, demonstrating advanced capabilities in self-evaluation, conceptual analysis, and critical discourse.
  • Manage an artistic project from conceptualisation to public presentation, encompassing research, development, rehearsal, and production phases, demonstrating professional-level project management, leadership, and creative skills.
  • Exhibit the capacity to work autonomously while effectively engaging with mentors, supervisors, and collaborators, demonstrating independence and leveraging support systems.
  • Engage comprehensively with multi-modal performance practices, employing diverse approaches such as writing, directing, performing, and digital dissemination, addressing the complexities inherent in contemporary performance-making.
  • Provide rigorous and critical evidence of their role as artist-researchers, demonstrating a high level of experimentation, reflection, and critical inquiry throughout the creative process, culminating in a public performance communicating their artistic vision and research outcomes.

  The following course in this module is compulsory for CPPM students:

  Course Code | Title	ECTS
  CPM013 Master’s Degree Project	15

• Free Choice Courses

  

  Free Choice Courses

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  If desired, you will have the opportunity to select from several courses offered by EAMT or any other public university in Estonia.

   

  Learning Aims

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  This module aims to support the objectives of the programme by providing students with the freedom to plan their studies according to their individual developmental needs, academic, intellectual, and professional interests, and future career aspirations. It allows students to gain additional knowledge in specialised disciplines or subjects related to their field of study, fostering a tailored and personalised educational experience.

   

  Learning Outcomes

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  Upon successful completion of the module, students will be able to:

  • Design and pursue individualised learning pathways that align with their personal development needs, academic interests, and professional objectives, demonstrating autonomy and strategic vision in their educational journey.
  • Acquire and integrate advanced knowledge and skills from specialised disciplines or subjects, enhancing their broader artistic and scholarly practice.
  • Critically evaluate and synthesise concepts and methodologies from their chosen courses, applying interdisciplinary approaches to enrich their core field of study.
  • Demonstrate adaptability and openness by effectively engaging with diverse academic settings and learning environments outside their primary discipline.
  • Apply newly acquired specialised skills and theoretical insights to address complex challenges within their artistic practice, showcasing both adaptability and a high level of expertise.
  • Reflect on personal and professional development, articulating how the knowledge and skills gained contribute to their growth and future career prospects.