Study Guide

Descriptions

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVE
The Turku University of Applied Sciences Arts Academy's fine art education is a four-year, 240-credit programme leading to the degree of Bachelor of Culture and Arts. It provides a solid foundation of knowledge and skills for the profession of visual artist or photographer, depending on the chosen specialisation.

The training emphasises the development of the student's own artistic expression, professional activities and work-life skills. The methods and techniques of contemporary art offer a wide range of possibilities for implementation, which the student can apply to his/her own artistic expression and to various work assignments. After completing the training, the graduates will be able to work and develop their own artistry in the field of art and in multidisciplinary cooperation. The fine art training takes into account the artist's responsibility for social and ecological sustainability.

The fine arts are visible and have an impact on society. The strategic guidelines of Turku University of Applied Sciences, the City of Turku and Southwest Finland emphasise the importance of the cultural sector as a driver of well-being, cooperation, competitiveness and attractiveness of the region. Art is part of a good life.

Fine art education has strong regional, national and international cooperation networks. The education implements the National Vision 2030 for fine art education and training, for example in promoting equality and multiculturalism in the arts and improving accessibility.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF EDUCATION
The study of fine art is practical and collaborative. The studies include, for example, workshops on different methods and themes, artistic projects and practice of professional practices. The learning activities, which correspond to the job description of a visual artist, develop personal expression and teach a variety of contemporary art practices. Alongside practical work, you will practice observation and critical thinking in theoretical studies. In feedback discussions with the teachers, group viewings and seminars, students analyse and evaluate their learning and the development of their own artistic work.

The studies are divided into core and extended competences. Core competences include common language studies, the basics of art history and theory, professional practices and professional studies of your choice. Extended competences consist of own artistic work, internships, project studies, optional studies and a thesis.

The fine art curriculum is flexible and allows for different learning pathways. For example, you can work with your tutor to build a personal learning plan (HOPS) that supports your own goals from a range of vocational studies. You can also choose internships and electives to deepen your own orientation. During the twice-yearly workshop week, students can broaden their knowledge in areas such as animation, curatorial practices, current phenomena in contemporary art, performance art, analogue methods of photography, etc.

The first year of studies will progress from the basics of artistic work to professional studies. It is a practical introduction to fine art practices and the professional field. It also introduces you to safe and sustainable working practices. Theoretical and linguistic studies go hand in hand with practical processes.

In the second year, the focus is on workshop-style professional studies in fine art or photography, where students are introduced to different approaches, practices and theories of contemporary art. In the professional studies of fine arts education, students can choose sculpture, painting, graphic arts or photography. Foreign exchange students coming to the School of Fine Arts are placed in professional studies, so teaching is partly in English. During the second year, students will learn both about working as an artist-entrepreneur and about the theory and practice of contemporary art, such as spatial and temporal art and the means of expression of the moving image.

In the third year, you will deepen your artistic work and develop your documentation and presentation practices. Third-year students are encouraged to participate in international student exchanges through the networks offered by the school. The KUNO network of Baltic and Nordic art schools allows for short exchanges, while longer-term exchanges are possible through programmes such as Erasmus+.

Fourth-year studies are built around a thesis. Students will carry out a research-based and artistic thesis whose working process corresponds to the reality of the work of a visual artist. The artistic thesis is carried out in cooperation with working life. The art theory studies preceding the thesis will prepare the student for artistic research and development in the field of fine art. Exploratory and developmental artistry is at the heart of the thesis process.

Students can choose freely (30 credits) from the teaching offerings in fine art, from the teaching offerings of other fields of study at the Turku University of Applied Sciences, as exchange studies in accordance with their personal study plan or as practical art projects, for example as part of research, development and innovation activities.

During the traineeship (30 credits), the student will become familiar with the tasks of his/her professional field in a real working environment. The aim of the traineeship is to prepare the student for employment in a wide range of specialist positions in fine art. Part of the traineeship is integrated into the thesis process. Traineeships can also be carried out abroad, in research, development and innovation projects or as part of a service activity in the fine art.

PATHWAYS, SPECIALISATIONS AND QUALIFICATIONS
Fine art education has specialisations in fine art and photography. The preliminary tasks and the selection test are carried out in the chosen field of specialisation.

Fine art
In fine arts, students can immerse themselves in contemporary art through sculpture, painting or graphic arts. You will broaden your knowledge of the means of expression of photography and moving image, public art and current social themes. Professional identity is strengthened and deepened through internships and art projects corresponding to the work of a visual artist.

Photography
Photography studies introduce you to the practice of photography and the technical and expressive possibilities of photography. You will expand your knowledge to other forms of contemporary art, public art and current social issues. Professional identity is strengthened and deepened through internships and art projects corresponding to photographic work.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Graduates can work as independent artists and specialists in their field or in a wide range of professional fields in photography.

EXAMPLES OF JOB TITLES
26510 Painter
26512 Graphic artist
26513 Sculptor
26519 Other visual artist
34310 Portrait photographer
34311 Advertising photographer
34312 Magazine photographer
34319 Other photographer
X0110 Entrepreneur

FURTHER STUDY OPPORTUNITIES
The Bachelor of Culture and Art gives you the right to apply for appropriate master degrees at Finnish and international colleges and universities.

Objective

The aim of the fine arts education is that graduates are able to work professionally in the field of art and to present the results of their work in public. They are familiar with contemporary art phenomena and art history and recognise the relationships between different artistic trends and phenomena. They are able to examine their own artistic activity in relation to the tradition of art and are familiar with the practices of the art world at regional, national and international level. The graduate will have a documentary, investigative and developmental approach to artistic work.

The graduate will be able to use fine art techniques and media in an appropriate way and to develop their technical, expressive and theoretical skills. At the same time, they recognise their own skills and the potential for multidisciplinary cooperation. During the studies, group and interaction skills are practised, as well as the well-being skills of the visual artist.

In fine art studies, students are encouraged to make independent artistic choices and develop the ability to evaluate and analyse their own and others' artistic activities. Graduates in fine art will understand how the profession works and how it can be developed in a changing society. In their artistic work, they take into account issues of a sustainable future, holistic thinking and their own proactive approach to development. Graduates are able to apply their knowledge and communicate it in different contexts.

Development

The emphasis in fine art teaching is on practical, workshop-based activities, where the practical skills and thinking of the visual artist are practised. The workshops in the professional subjects focus on contemporary art practices and modes of expression, as well as on the processes of art making. The workshop teaching is accompanied by theoretical studies in which the students' own artistic work is related to contemporary art practices and traditions. The curriculum is flexible and allows students to choose different pathways and opportunities to prepare for a career as a visual artist. In line with innovation pedagogy, pedagogical diversity is emphasised in the implementation of the courses. The studies include participation in public exhibitions in the school's gallery spaces or other venues. As the studies progress, the students' independent work will increase and the role of the teacher will become more guiding. The thesis in the fourth year will include a research component reflecting and supporting the artistic work and an independent artistic work. In the thesis seminars, students present their artistic work, its starting points, implementation and results.

In research, development and innovation (RDI) projects and other collaborative projects, students work together with working life. Partners include local art museums, artists' associations and various companies and communities. These partnerships may include exhibitions, art events, workshops, public art or art-related products, events or services. In addition to collaborative projects, traineeships provide opportunities for networking and to complement and apply their own skills in practice. Traineeship seminars are organised to present traineeship experiences and assess the development of skills. Optional and project-based studies allow students to deepen their knowledge in fine art projects and extend their knowledge to other professional fields.

In addition to national projects, there are also projects with international partners. In addition, international contacts can be made through KUNO workshops, longer student exchanges or international internships. The teaching of workshops and artistic work (60 credits in total) will be partly in English when exchange students participate in the courses.

Further information

Evaluation of your own work and learning is an ongoing and holistic process. During the course, learning is assessed in a variety of ways, for example through feedback discussions, exercises, essays, reports, analyses or examinations. Through feedback discussions and peer assessment, students will develop their ability to evaluate and develop their own performance. The assessment will focus on competence and development in line with the objectives of the course. Assessment is dialogical and is built up through discussions between the student, the teachers and the group. External experts may also be involved in the assessment.

Fine art teaching and learning processes are developed in dialogue with students and teachers, for example through course feedback and annual student feedback days. National and international networks of representatives of the world of work, partners and trainers in fine art education are used to develop, for example, future competence objectives and operating environments.