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UK University Launches First Body Art Degree
19 Jul
Summary
- The University of Creative Arts offers the UK's first BA (Hons) in Body Art.
- The course aims to elevate tattooing to a recognized master craft.
- 94% of enrolled students identify as female or non-binary.
Students in Kent have completed the inaugural year of a body art degree, believed to be the first of its kind in the UK. The University of Creative Arts (UCA) initiated the BA (Hons) in Body Art at its Canterbury campus, positioning tattooing within a context of heightened mainstream visibility and academic interest.
Associate Dean Charlotte Frost emphasized the course's objective to challenge existing stigmas and elevate tattooing, which has historically been overlooked by higher education, into an academic spotlight. This initiative mirrors the trajectory of established fields like games programming and digital animation.
UCA highlighted that approximately 25% of the global tattoo workforce comprises women, suggesting barriers within traditional entry routes. The university aims to counter the male-dominated culture prevalent in parts of the industry by providing inclusive spaces for practitioners, with 94% of the first-year body art students identifying as female or non-binary.
