module specification

FA6006 Professional Practice 2: Fine Art is a subject-specific module supporting students to further develop their professional and academic skills, including their practical and conceptual understanding of the codes, conventions and issues associated with curatorial display.  Students are expected to synthesise the experience and knowledge gained over the course through previous experience, and employ a range of transferable skills in communication, negotiation, analysis, project planning and project management.

The module includes lectures and workshops to support students to present an exhibition proposal, a working document that they will continue to develop, test and revise over the course of the year. A schedule of tutorials, supervision, technical input and workshops, as appropriate are available to enable students to realise their plans in the form of a Degree show exhibition at the end of the module.

The FA6006 Professional Practice 2: Fine Art module serves and sustains an award on the BA Fine Art course only, delivered in a seamless and integral relationship with the work of other core studio practice modules on Level 6. Students are expected to investigate and develop critical and aesthetic working relationships between and across the Level 6 modules.

The module aims to let students show they have acquired coherent and detailed knowledge of specific fine art skills in curating and exhibition display and are able to deploy critical thinking with accuracy in developing and obtaining a wider, non-specialist audience from outside the art school for their artwork, as shown in both physical and virtual spaces.

In mastery of the organisation of tools, equipment, materials, space and human resources for an art exhibition in a public space, one of this module’s objectives is to enable students to develop key transferable skills in negotiation of individual presence in a group environment and in creation, adaptation and acceptance of group ethics in a shared space.

The module also aims to provide students with work-related learning about social media platforms and websites to develop wider public and new art audiences, with a view to creating and updating a sustainable legacy of art career assets to aid employability.

Completion and pass (120 credits) of previous level.

At the beginning of the module, its aims, key concepts and milestones will be outlined to all students. There will then be teamwork sessions and guided independent study on the organisation of tools, equipment, materials, space and human resources for an art exhibition in a public space (LO2).

Several sessions will be dedicated to the use of marketing and social media in creating audience for show (LO3).

Some sessions will be dedicated to each student creating, updating and uploading image and text content for the publication of their own website featuring their artworks (LO4) with a link to the student’s updated employment Curriculum Vitae. Sessions and guided independent study will be spent in groups deciding curation, establishing group ethics, putting together an individual Exhibition Proposal for display of artworks, Show Agreement and Risk Assessment of that display (LO1).

At the end of the module all students will apply their collective planning for exhibition in teamwork via show build and installation of artworks, publishing a catalogue and making clear they meet a given quota of participation in an invigilation rota (LO3, LO5).

Scheduled teaching ensures that independent study is effective and addresses the learning outcomes and assessment tasks. Students are expected to (and to have the opportunity to) continue with their studies outside of scheduled classes. There will be a range of learning strategies deployed and individual learning styles will be accommodated. The module’s learning outcomes, its contents and delivery, have been scrutinised and will be regularly reviewed to ensure an inclusive approach to pedagogic practice.

The module and course utilise the University’s blended learning platform to support and reinforce learning, to foster peer-to-peer communication and to facilitate tutorial support for students. Reflective learning is promoted through assessment items and interim formative feedback points that ask students to reflect on their progress, seek help where they identify the opportunity for improvement in learning strategies and outcomes, and make recommendations to themselves for future development. Throughout the module, students build a body of work, including reflections on progress and achievement.

The School’s programme of employability events and embedded work-related learning within the curriculum supports students’ personal development planning. Through these initiatives, students are increasingly able, as they progress from year to year, to understand the professional environment of their disciplines, the various opportunities available to them, and how to shape their learning according to their ambitions.

On completing the module, the student should be able to:

1. agree and establish among a group of art exhibitors a set of exhibition ethics, publish them to the group and work to them, self-regulating;
2. participate extensively and regularly in planned teamwork for build, hang and installation of a large group exhibition open to a public, non-specialist audience;
3. advocate for aesthetic values and critical thinking in art by using different social media platforms;
4. update and extend a professional, public website featuring artworks, linking to a CV describing education, work experience, skills and responsibilities;
5. arrange artworks in a professionally curated display, with professional attention to build, installation and invigilation, display devices, critical thinking about space and making good on departure.

The module will be assessed for an art student's organisation of space, display tools, equipment, materials and tasks in exhibition of their major project, including use of marketing and social media in building audience for their work. This begins at the start of the academic year. There will also be an assessment of updated student website and CV, as well as for Show Proposal, Exhibition Agreement and Risk Assessment. Finally, participation in teamwork for show catalogue, show build, installation and hang for exhibition of their major project will be assessed.

The assessment strategy includes formative assessments throughout the Level, with tutorial feedback designed to encourage and help students to develop and improve their work. These inform the student of their progress over the course. An interim review offers a specific opportunity to reflect on the work in relation to the module’s learning outcomes and this together with finished project work and supporting material will inform the assessment panel at the summative assessment at the end of the Level.

Students will evaluate their own learning on the module using the criteria published below and write a short critical evaluation (summary statement) of their work. This will provide the basis for discussion at the assessment feedback session after the formal coursework assessment has taken place.

Summative assessment takes place at the end of the module in two key areas; Exhibition and Display of Project Work and Professional Practice Folder. Written feedback addresses the strengths and weaknesses of individual presentations in relation to the grading criteria.

Work in both assessment items will be assessed against the learning outcomes in relation to the following criteria:

• Appropriate use of research methods and enquiry
• Quality of analysis and interpretation
• Knowledge of and relevance to the Fine Art subject
• Quality of communication and presentation
• Appropriate use of problem solving, testing and experimentation
• Management of own learning and personal professional development

Textbooks: Core
Kawasaki, G. and Fitzpatrick, P. (2014) The Art of Social Media, London: Penguin
Obrist, H-U. (2015) Ways of Curating, London: Penguin

Textbooks: Other
George, A. (2015) The Curator's Handbook: Museums, Commercial Galleries, Independent Spaces, London: Thames and Hudson
Graham, B. and Cook, S. (2010) Rethinking Curating, New York: MIT Press
Newhouse, V. (2005) Art and the Power of Placement, New York: Monacelli Press
Rugg, J. and Sedgwick M. (2009) Issues in Curating Contemporary Art and Performance, Chicago: University of Chicago Press

Journals:
Journal of Curatorial Studies, Bristol: Intellect
Journal of Social Media and Society, Thousand Oaks: SAGE Journals
Journal of Social Media in Society, Stephenville: Texas Social Media Research Institute

Websites:
https://www.on-curating.org