Postgraduate Diploma in Community Cultural Development Practice

The Postgraduate Diploma in Community Cultural Development Practice aims to address increasing work opportunities in the field of community cultural development (CCD) and cross-sectoral community based arts practice.

The course aims to provide an intensive learning experience for artists/animateurs from all art forms, who have a commitment to social justice and to the role of art as a process for intervention.

The course responds to the field’s expressed training needs, and will incorporate studies in a creative paradigm incorporating CCD practice, context, process and theory, and specifically aim to engage artists/animateurs experientially through the development of practical, theoretical and management skill, vital to career development in this field.

The objectives of this course are:

• to produce artists/animateurs with a high degree of proficiency in CCD process and practice;
• to produce artists/animateurs who have a comprehensive knowledge of working with culturally/linguistically/regionally diverse communities;
• to produce artists/animateurs with effective project development, management and evaluation skills;
• to equip artists/animateurs with the necessary project management skills to manage their own career, project or programs of community-based arts practice;
• to produce artists/animateurs who can contribute to the growing field of CCD research, critical analysis and ‘best practice’;
• to provide artists/animateurs with a recognised postgraduate qualification in CCD;
• to develop a new generation of CCD cross-sectoral practitioners;
• to promote critical reflection on the role of the professional artist/animateurs working in a CCD context the local and global community;
• to foster in artists/animateurs a spirit of inquiry, creativity and initiative to progress the field of knowledge in CCD; and
• to prepare artists/animateurs for Master’s Degree pathway in CCD.

Postgraduate Diploma in Community Cultural Development Practice

A three year degree with a major in a specific art form or relevant field or equivalent and one year's full time documented arts practice or CCD experience; or equivalent, documented professional arts/CCD work experience of at least 5 years, full time.

For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

At the completion of the course or subject students should be able to:

• exhibit extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of their discipline including relevant professional knowledge, skills, discipline and ethics as they relate to a practising artist working in diverse CCD contexts;
• demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
• demonstrate practical skills in respect of critical analysis, problem solving, report writing, team work and oral and written communication;
• demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional artist working in CCD practice in the 21st century;
• work at various levels, both as an individual and as a team member, in a wide variety of artistic and community environments;
• contribute to a range of cross-sectoral environments as artistic collaborators and leaders;
• demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas;
• critically and creatively engage with topics of cultural significance across communities;
• understand and appreciate how all the arts connect with the broader society and contribute to its social and economic development, and
• understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society.