Study Guide

Descriptions

OBJECTIVE OF STUDIES

The Part Time Studies at the Degree Programme in Fine Arts at Turku University of Applied Sciences lead to the Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts degree. A part time student is required to possess the basic skills and knowledge of a visual artist or a photographer and previous working experience as a visual artist or a photographer. The programme consists of 240 ECTS credists. 90 ECTS are completed during the studies (in 1,5 years). 150 ECTS are compensated by proved competences, earlier studies and working experience. The studies are completed as blended learning based on the individual study plan. The programme provides solid knowledge and skills to pursue a profession in photographic art.

The programme places a strong focus on the development of the students’ own artistic expression as well as professional practice and working life skills. The methods and techniques of contemporary art lend themselves to a wide range of applications that the students can implement in their own expression and assignments. The graduates of the programme will be able to operate and develop their practice as visual artists within the sphere of art as well as in multiprofessional contexts.

Visual arts are a prominent and powerful element of society. The strategic policies for the City of Turku, Southwest Finland and Turku University of Applied Sciences for 2015–2025 emphasize the role of the field of culture in improving the well-being, collectivity, competitiveness and appeal of the region. Art is part of good life.

STRUCTURE AND CONTENT OF STUDIES

Fine arts is a practice-oriented discipline. The studies include workshops on different methods and themes, artistic projects and practical training in the chosen professional field. Learning tasks based on real professional practice serve to develop the students’ own expression while introducing different approaches in contemporary art. Practical work is supported by theoretical studies that develop viewing skills and critical thinking. During feedback discussions with the teacher and group critique sessions and seminars, the students will be analysing and assessing their own learning and progress.

In the Part Time Studies at the Degree Programme in Fine Arts, students will concentrate on artistic work. During the studies the artistic skills are deepened in practical work. The aim for the studies in the first spring semester is a group exhibition. In the autumn semester the focus is on photobooks. Bachelor’s thesis (artistic and research part) is completed in the second spring semester. Theoretical and language courses will be completed alongside the practice-based process. Free choice studies are based on the individual study plan. They can be chosen from the course offering in fine arts, other fields of study at TUAS, exchange studies or from practical art projects that form a part of research, development and innovation activities, among others. Some of the elective studies can be integrated into the thesis process.

As a rule, the studies are carried out online. Contact teaching periods at the campus will take place three to five times a semester. Some elective theory studies and some free choice studies require attendance.

The students are encouraged to participate in international exchange through the channels provided by the school. For example the KUNO network of Nordic fine arts academies organizes short-term exchanges. The second half of the studies is largely dedicated to the Bachelor’s thesis.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

The graduates of the degree programme may work as independent artists and experts or in a wide range of roles in the different fields of photography.

POSTGRADUATE STUDY OPPORTUNITIES

The Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts qualifies for postgraduate studies in:
• suitable Finnish and international higher education institutions and universities
• applicable master’s degree programmes

Objective

The objective of the degree programme is to give the students the knowledge and skills to work in a professional capacity in the field of art and display their work in public. The graduates are well-versed in the phenomena of contemporary art and art history and able to identify the relationships between different artistic movements and phenomena. They are able to analyse their own artistic practice in relation to artistic tradition and is familiar with artistic practices in regional, national and international contexts.

The studies help develop skills to observe and interpret the environment and topical phenomena and to convert this into artistic content and works of art. The graduates will have the readiness to make use of the techniques and tools of fine art in an appropriate manner and to build on their technical, expressive and theoretical knowledge and skills. They also recognize their own skills and the value of multiprofessional collaboration.

The students are encouraged to make independent artistic choices and develop their capabilities to evaluate and analyse the artistic work of their own as well as others. The graduates will understand the potential for practising and developing an artistic profession in changing society. They will know how to apply their skills and communicate about it in different contexts.

They will recognize the social aspects of their work and are able to apply their skills in different types of projects and collaborate with regional, national and international partners. As artists, they will take ethical and aesthetic responsibility for their environment and are able to view the surrounding society through the methodologies of art.

Development

The Degree Programme of Fine Arts is based on innovation pedagogy. This means that the focus is on practical workshop activities through which the students can learn artistic skills and thinking. The workshops form part of the professional studies and focus on the practices and modes of expression in contemporary art as well as the processes and versatility of making art. The curriculum is flexible and allows students to progress through different paths to gain qualifications as a professional artist. An element in the curriculum is participation in exhibitions at the school gallery or other spaces.

Alongside workshops, the students will complete theoretical courses, which interlinks their personal artistic work with the practices and traditions of contemporary art. Questions of professional practices and the entrepreneurship of artists are discussed on a separate course but is it also an aspect of specific relevance in all professional studies and the thesis work. A broad perspective on the potential of art and artistic practice gives students the opportunity to discuss their own work from a wider angle and find their own ways of acting as an artist in society.

The bachelor’s thesis includes a research related to the themes or practices of the artistic work, and the independently produced artistic work itself. At the thesis seminars, students present their work in progress as well as its starting point, process and outcomes.

The students can use free choice studies to deepen their skills in art projects and to expand their competences into other fields of professional expertise. For example, a wide range of online courses in different fields is available; for more information visit the Campus Online portal.

RDI and other collaborative projects form a link to working life. Collaboration partners include regional art museums, artist societies and companies and organizations. The collaborative projects may include exhibitions, art events, workshops, public works of art or products, events or services in which art is applied.

Students are also welcome to join projects conducted in collaboration with international collaboration partners. International contacts can also be made through KUNO workshops, student exchange and international practical training. The instruction at workshops and for artistic work takes place in English whenever there are international exchange students participating on a course.

Further information

Self-assessment and learning assessment are an ongoing and comprehensive process. The quality of learning and teaching is assessed by way of feedback discussions, exercises, essays, reports, analyses and exams, depending on the course. The feedback discussions and peer assessment develop the students’ ability to assess and improve their own work. Assessment focuses on goals-based competence and its development. The assessment takes place through a dialogue between the student and the teacher and the group. The assessment may also be contributed to by an external expert.

The assessment is bidirectional, so the teacher performance will also be continuously assessed and improved. In addition to continuous assessment, feedback may also be gathered in connection with individual courses. An annual feedback day will be organized for each year group, during which the feedback collated by students groups will be discussed, headed by the training manager. The feedback day is attended by teachers, the study counsellor and the director of education. Any issues raised and discussed during the feedback day will be listed in an action plan. The education in fine arts is constantly being developed in dialogue with working life representatives and partners at, for example, the advisory board for fine arts and the international PARADOX network for fine art instructors.