Professional Perspectives

This subject is not offered in 2013.

120 Hours

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Objectives, 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 the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Professional Perspectives is a Professional Development Seminar. Areas to be considered include various aspects of proposal writing, professional exhibition models, professional documentation of artwork, ethical conduct/public liability, intellectual property, curatorial /museum sector questions, community involvement and small business regimes appropriate to professional visual artists.

This subject will enable students to:
• develop an understanding of the professional and institutional practices that comprise the contemporary art profession;
• demonstrate through critical writing and discussion the capacity to articulate judgements and opinions that reflect an understanding of the field;
• engage professionally within the institutional context of contemporary art.

1. The student is asked to keep a comprehensive journal of notes and reflections of about 2500 words over the course of the semester (50%)

2. The student is asked to create a full written exhibition/program proposal of about 2500 words as per brief given by the lecturer (50%), or

3. A submission through consultation with the lecturer (100%).

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

On completion of this subject students will:

• have developed an understanding of the mechanisms for writing a grant or other proposal;
• have developed an understanding of the functions of a contemporary art curator;
• have developed an understanding of the functions of contemporary art gallery spaces including public sector and commercial galleries and other structures such as experimental and artist run initiatives and projects;
• have developed an understanding of ethical and copyright issues as these have a bearing on professional art practice;
• have developed an understanding of the mechanisms running a contemporary art practice.