Year
2024Credit points
10Campus offering
Prerequisites
(ARTS225 - Print Media OR ARTS245 Printmaking OR ARTS238 Photography OR ARTS241 Painting OR ARTS236 Ceramics/Multimedia OR ARTS226 Video / Installation OR ARTS239 - Object Design OR ARTS246 Sculptural Practice OR DESN242 Design for Publication OR DESN240 Design for Multimedia OR DESN227 Web Design OR DESN243 Design for Visual Storytelling OR DESN244 Design for Social Media OR ARTS237 Postmodern Art in the 20th Century OR ARTS247 Renaissance to Romanticism in Art and Architecture OR ARTS331 - Contemporary Art in a Globalised World OR ARTS338 International Study Tour: Venice Biennale OR ARTS332 Self-Directed Studio OR ARTS325 Professional Practice OR ARTS330 Internship OR ARTS341 Art in the 21st Century ) AND (ARTS225 - Print Media OR ARTS245 Printmaking OR ARTS238 Photography OR ARTS241 Painting OR ARTS236 Ceramics/Multimedia OR ARTS226 Video / Installation OR ARTS239 - Object Design OR ARTS246 Sculptural Practice OR DESN242 Design for Publication OR DESN240 Design for Multimedia OR DESN227 Web Design OR DESN243 Design for Visual Storytelling OR DESN244 Design for Social Media OR ARTS237 Postmodern Art in the 20th Century OR ARTS247 Renaissance to Romanticism in Art and Architecture OR ARTS331 - Contemporary Art in a Globalised World OR ARTS338 International Study Tour: Venice Biennale OR ARTS332 Self-Directed Studio OR ARTS325 Professional Practice OR ARTS330 Internship OR ARTS341 Art in the 21st Century ) AND (ARTS225 - Print Media OR ARTS245 Printmaking OR ARTS238 Photography OR ARTS241 Painting OR ARTS236 Ceramics/Multimedia OR ARTS226 Video / Installation OR ARTS239 - Object Design OR ARTS246 Sculptural Practice OR DESN242 Design for Publication OR DESN240 Design for Multimedia OR DESN227 Web Design OR DESN243 Design for Visual Storytelling OR DESN244 Design for Social Media OR ARTS237 Postmodern Art in the 20th Century OR ARTS247 Renaissance to Romanticism in Art and Architecture OR ARTS331 - Contemporary Art in a Globalised World OR ARTS338 International Study Tour: Venice Biennale OR ARTS332 Self-Directed Studio OR ARTS325 Professional Practice OR ARTS330 Internship OR ARTS341 Art in the 21st Century ) AND (ARTS225 - Print Media OR ARTS245 Printmaking OR ARTS238 Photography OR ARTS241 Painting OR ARTS236 Ceramics/Multimedia OR ARTS226 Video / Installation OR ARTS239 - Object Design OR ARTS246 Sculptural Practice OR DESN242 Design for Publication OR DESN240 Design for Multimedia OR DESN227 Web Design OR DESN243 Design for Visual Storytelling OR DESN244 Design for Social Media OR ARTS237 Postmodern Art in the 20th Century OR ARTS247 Renaissance to Romanticism in Art and Architecture OR ARTS331 - Contemporary Art in a Globalised World OR ARTS338 International Study Tour: Venice Biennale OR ARTS332 Self-Directed Studio OR ARTS325 Professional Practice OR ARTS330 Internship OR ARTS341 Art in the 21st Century )
Unit rationale, description and aim
Visual artists and designers must understand that creating visual art and design works that communicate, challenge and express their own and others’ ideas involves developed perceptual and conceptual understanding, critical reasoning and practical skills through exploring and expanding their understanding of their world, and other worlds.
Students must be competent in their theoretical knowledge and practical skills to be successful in their chosen career in the creative industries. The purpose of this unit is to continue the program of mentored studio and theoretical practice in the student's specialisation, which may have commenced in ARTS332 Self-Directed Studio. This unit provides students with the opportunity to plan, develop and realise a major creative project. Working in response to clearly articulated and student-led project briefs, students will draw on the skills and knowledge to produce a substantial body of creative-led research. For the specialisations in design or visual arts the body of work will be presented for potential inclusion in the Graduating Exhibition. For the specialisation in art history and theory, students will complete an extensively researched written study.
The aim of this unit is to provide students with the opportunity to showcase their advanced creative arts skills in the development of an innovative creative-led research project. This project will provide them with evidence that can be used in a portfolio for future employment or exhibiting opportunities in professional gallery spaces. The visual art and design major work is designed to represent project briefs that may be completed in professional contexts making students work ready for employment in the creative industries.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
| Learning Outcome Number | Learning Outcome Description | Relevant Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| LO1 | Identify effective personal working methods and research strategies necessary for the visual arts and design or theory essay major project (GA2, GA3, GA4, GA8, GA9) | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC8, GC9 |
| LO2 | Describe how personal art making is situated within the history of art and the wider context of contemporary art practices (GA4, GA5, GA8) | GC4, GC5, GC8 |
| LO3 | Apply the critical, ethical and practical skills required of a contemporary practitioner in the selected specialisation (GA2, GA3, GA4, GA5, GA7) | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC5, GC7 |
| LO4 | Produce a substantial body of work that is well-researched, reflexive and innovative to be considered for inclusion in the undergraduate exhibition held at the conclusion of the course, or, in the case of art history and theory students, present an extensively researched written study for assessment (GA4, GA5) | GC4, GC5 |
Content
Students will produce a substantial body of work which demonstrates an understanding of the concepts and contexts central to their visual arts or design practice or art history and theory research interests. Students will work independently in their own studio space in preparation for their graduating exhibition, or, in the case of art history and theory specialists, on an extensively researched written study.
Topics may include:
- A consideration and application of advanced practices, theories, languages, forms, materials, technologies and techniques associated with contemporary creative disciplines.
- An awareness of the professional practices that surround the creative sector including project management, project briefs and timelines, writing artist statements, gallery installation and public presentation and documentation of creative work.
- An understanding of the Australian and international creative arts sector understood from perspectives including cultural, ethical and social viewpoints.
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
Students undertake this unit in classes that consist of a) an explication of the requirements and practices associated with creative-led research and inter-disciplinary creative approaches or working collectively on creative projects b) discussion and reflection on the intersection of their personal art practice and the history of art and the wider context of contemporary art practices c) workshops designed to further the needs of students’ own projects.
As a capstone unit within the Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design, this unit allows students to demonstrate their expertise in their selected visual arts or design disciplines or art history research interests. It provides opportunities to demonstrate skills and knowledge of the practices, languages, theories, forms, materials, technologies and techniques in visual arts and design practice and research. Students will be expected to work independently and collaboratively and will have the opportunity to show creative leadership throughout the process of developing a project. This unit embraces active learning strategies which will help students to engage with the creative industries.
Requiring high-level application of skills learned by students throughout their Bachelor of Visual Arts and Design degree, this unit anticipates students have progressively acquired knowledge and techniques in their theory and studio units. Their major creative project provides the opportunity to apply these skills in a highly self-motivated context which allows them to demonstrate their expertise and ability to manage the professional delivery of an art and design project or in the case of the art history essay independent, scholarly research.
This unit will be taught so classes assist students in designing and developing their projects through weekly feedback and discussion that promotes studio culture and fosters confidence in communicating ideas verbally as well as visually. Students’ assessment tasks are contextualised by lecturers on the key concepts and principles relevant to the production of their major creative project and model research and analysis skills appropriate for an emerging creative artist, designer or researcher.
Assessment strategy and rationale
The practical assessments have been designed to contribute to high-quality student learning by both helping students to learn and by measuring explicit evidence of their learning. Assessments have been developed to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. Each of the three assessment tasks has been designed with a specific purpose, to enable students to demonstrate achievement of all three learning outcomes and establish professional approaches for their future creative careers.
The unit provides scaffolded learning with opportunities for students to monitor their own progress, practise their skills and receive feedback. The Research Presentation provides students with the opportunity to demonstrate rigorous disciplined knowledge of the processes and practices involved in conceptualising a creative arts project. The Studio Research Documentation allows students to present and communicate how personal art-making is situated within the history of art and the wider context of contemporary art practices. The Major Creative Work allows for the application of high-level skills and knowledge developed through the visual arts and design degree to a sustained creative project. All of the assessments in this unit have been designed so they can form part of a professional portfolio that could be used to showcase the skills and abilities of the student for employment in the creative industries.
Overview of assessments
| Brief Description of Kind and Purpose of Assessment Tasks | Weighting | Learning Outcomes | Graduate Capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|
Assessment 1: Research Presentation Students will develop a presentation that reflects the research, ideas, materials, and techniques, underpinning the major creative project. The purpose of this assessment is to identify effective personal working methods, communicate research strategies and demonstrate an awareness of how personal art-making is situated within the history of art and the wider context of contemporary art practices. | 20% | LO1, LO2 | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC8, GC9 |
Assessment 2: Studio Research Documentation Students will present the creative project in the studio and demonstrate the critical, ethical and practical skills required of a contemporary practitioner. Written documentation that archives the creative process and reflects on how the project has developed in relation to a wider context of contemporary practice or art historical research. | 30% | LO2, LO3 | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC5, GC7, GC8 |
Assessment 3: Major Body of Work OR An Extensively Researched Written Study In response to extensive research conducted and produced by Assessment 1, and reflective and critical thinking about the development of the project (assessment 2). Students will produce a substantial body of work that is well-researched, reflexive and innovative to be considered for inclusion in the undergraduate exhibition held at the conclusion of the course, or, in the case of art history and theory students, present an extensively researched written essay for assessment. The artist statement that accompanies the outcome of the major project will illustrate how the final creative art or design work showcases the students' practical expertise, conceptual development and curatorial intentions. | 50% | LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4 | GC2, GC3, GC4, GC5, GC7, GC8, GC9 |
Representative texts and references
As this is a visual practice studio-based unit, there are no prescribed textbooks. However, recommended reading and other references are available upon consultation with the lecturer.