KYB201 Socially Engaged Arts Practice


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Unit Outline: Semester 1 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Unit code:KYB201
Credit points:12
Equivalent:KTB108, KTB209, KTB212
Coordinators:Naomi Blacklock | n.blacklock@qut.edu.au
Bree Hadley | bree.hadley@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

This unit addresses principles, practices and forms of performance that privilege community and cultural democracy. By examining the key ideology and teachings and contemporary Australian practice in community and cultural development (CCD), this unit aims to make connections between creative practice, community and their concerns. It also aims to provide opportunities for you to engage positively in these contexts through your respective art form. Creative practice can reach out beyond the walls of conventional performance space and use its transformative powers to activate solidarity and agency in people and communities to facilitate social action and positive change. Knowledge of the ethos, values and processes of working with communities in a responsive and consultative fashion is an important capability for a comprehensive career in arts and provides key career opportunities for emerging artists.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate an understanding of the philosophies and principles that drive contemporary practice in the field of community and cultural engagement.
  2. Apply creative and analytical thinking to examine, assess and critique projects of community-based practice.
  3. Work collaboratively employing techniques demonstrated in the 3 case study lectures and other materials, to plan and present a workshop for a specific client group.
  4. Employ problem solving techniques and culturally appropriate protocols and procedures to create a project model that responds to the needs of a community.

Content

Through theory-infused practice, students will engage in three major case studies of socially-engaged arts practice. The techniques for social and political engagement embedded within these projects will illustrate the potential of creative arts practice to engage, empower and transform both the community and the creative practitioner.

The module on community cultural development (CCD) practice will provide insights and perspectives on current practice in Australia and an opportunity to conceptualise / design a project that positively responds to those circumstances.

Learning Approaches

The unit features a series of lectures by academic staff and case studies of current practice from leading practitioners. You will also participate in workshops and demonstrations of socially engaged practice across art forms. You will have opportunities to reflect on key readings that extend and amplify understandings gained through class activities. There is also an expectation that you will use various online resources to seek out information regarding contemporary examples of socially engaged practice. During the project-based components, each group will have access to mentors who provide timely feedback and analysis.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Throughout the progress of workshops, teaching staff will provide feedback to you that will inform all assessments items. It is recommended that you keep a Journal/Workbook as a record of your discoveries and feedback through the course of your study and as a resource for future performance endeavour.

Feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

  • comments on summative assessment work in addition to criteria sheets, both for group work and individual endeavour
  • generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Canvas
  • criteria sheet grading.

Assessment

Overview

Under the instruction of the teaching team and in collaboration with other students, you will develop and demonstrate a workshop that employs techniques demonstrated in the 3 case study lectures and write a short personal response detailing how those techniques were expressed in the demonstration.

In the latter part of the unit, you will work in small groups to create a hypothetical project that responds to the needs of a predetermined community scenario.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Demonstration

In small groups, you are required to demonstrate a processual workshop employing techniques demonstrated in the case study lectures and then complete a short, written reflection that demonstrates describes how the relevant techniques were applied in the demonstration.

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual and group
Due (indicative): Mid-Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Project (applied)

Individually, you are required to complete a hypothetical grant application for funding to support a socially engaged arts project.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Weight: 50
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Late Semester
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 4

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Required Text/Equipment

Required reading will be available online.

Recommended References

Other unit readings and reference material will be available online.

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

Other required safety inductions will be conducted as required.

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

KK34 Bachelor of Fine Arts

  1. Cite and discuss a broad and coherent knowledge of historical and contemporary cultural contexts for creative practice, including the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges.
    Relates to: ULO2
  2. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
    Relates to: ULO1
  3. Demonstrate complex problem solving through iterative experimentation and the creative and critical development of ideas and outcomes.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4
  4. Demonstrate technical proficiency in at least one area of your field of creative practice.
    Relates to: ULO3
  5. Discern, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge in complex creative practice settings.
    Relates to: ULO3, ULO4
  6. Work productively as a leader and collaborator in disciplinary and interdisciplinary creative practice.
    Relates to: ULO3
  7. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through reflection and by acting on the informed critique of others.
    Relates to: ULO4
  8. Demonstrate respect for cultural and social differences, and work with integrity across creative practice networks.
    Relates to: ULO4
  9. Operate with initiative, ethical judgement and professionalism in creative practice, both alone and in groups.
    Relates to: ULO4

KK43 Bachelor of Creative Industries

  1. Demonstrate broad and coherent theoretical and practical knowledge required for creative enterprise, career development and interdisciplinary collaborations, supported by depth in at least one creative disciplinary area.
    Relates to: ULO1, ULO2, ULO3
  2. Demonstrate well-developed cognitive and ideation skills to identify, analyse and evaluate opportunities to address authentic complex problems.
    Relates to: ULO2, ULO3, ULO4
  3. Demonstrate technical expertise to support skills and knowledge within the Creative Industries.
    Relates to: ULO3
  4. Apply and adapt creative disciplinary knowledge and skills with agility in a range of industry, community and intercultural contexts.
    Relates to: ULO4
  5. Embody social and ethical responsibilities and exhibit well-developed judgement with resilience, integrity, curiosity and responsibility.
    Relates to: ULO4