Arts
The Arts at Canberra College is a highly developed and motivating area of study in the visual and performing arts.
Courses involve students in a wide range of performing and visual arts experiences.
In the Arts Faculty students have the opportunity to study at either a Tertiary level for university entrance or at an Accredited level.
Both Tertiary and Accredited courses allow a careful balance between the theoretical and the practical study of the arts, providing for students who want to make an extensive study of one or more arts forms and those who wish to explore the medium for enjoyment and personal development.
Art and Design and Ceramics
The visual arts are a means of communication which uses images and objects to express ideas, experiences and feelings, making the invisible, visible. At Canberra College we have a strong Art and Design Department with enthusiastic and committed teachers. Our top students rank in the higher percentile of the colleges’ UAI. Students’ art works have gained recognition and awards in local and interstate arenas. Art works and artists' books have been selected for exhibition in Headspace at the National Portrait Gallery every year since 2003. Students have been selected as finalists in the Billy Blue Scholarship award. Students have also been selected for the prestigious National Summer School Fellowship at the National Gallery of Australia.
Art and Design and Ceramics caters for those who wish to pursue a career in art, ceramics, design or those who just want to keep up with art skills for enjoyment. Students develop their skills in units such as Foundation, Painting, Design, Illustration, Sculpture and Installation, Printmaking through to student Self Directed Workshops in Year 12. At Canberra College we believe the visual arts process diary is an important part of the artistic process.
Many of our students go on to study at the Australian National University School of Art, Canberra University (in Graphic Design) or at numerous art or design institutions and universities in Australia. At this stage, entry into the ANU School of Arts is by portfolio and interview, rather than by UAI. Our students are assisted to prepare folios in Self Directed Workshops.
Lesson Outlines and examples of Art and Design student works are available on the Canberra Art Teachers web site. Go to http://www.cata.org.au/portfolios
Asian Studies. Many units in Art and Design look at the art and culture our Asian neighbours. Link to Access Asia Page with student art work and lesson outlines.
Dance
Dance Studies is designed to provide a comprehensive and exciting exploration of all areas of dance as a performing art. The course caters for those students with a background in dance and an interest in pursuing a career or tertiary study in dance or related performing arts fields. Dance also caters for those wishing to be involved in a dynamic and creative art form.
Students enrolled in Dance will perform in the Your Body Your Beat Youth Dance festivals and five dance performances at various venues. Dance students also perform at Canberra College events such as Open Evenings, transition Expos and Year 12 graduation ceremonies.
Drama challenges and supports students as they develop increasingly sophisticated skills in improvisation performance, directing, play writing and technical theatre.
Drama
The Drama Course develops students’ skills in all areas of performance such as acting, directing, playwriting, improvisation and technical theatre. Reading, writing, speaking and listening are fundamental to this course. Drama students taking the course at a T level are prepared for general tertiary study as well as specialised drama study. Both Drama T and Drama A challenge students and support them to develop self confidence and theatre skills that will allow them to pursue theatre careers and acting in both a professional and non-professional capacity. There is ample opportunity for involvement in college drama productions, either as a performer or in a technical role. Drama students are also encouraged to access live theatre productions/plays in and around the Canberra region.
The course revolves around a strong commitment to performance and students have the opportunity to work both in the college theatre, drama studio and in professional venues within the community.
Drama develops students’ capacity to understand and experience their common humanity and to develop skills to mange their own lives and solve their own problems.
Drama requires students, through enactment, to view life from many perspectives and to take on attitudes other than their own.
Media
Media is a study of how mass communications affect contemporary society and the individual. Students develop competencies for, and produce original practical work in, television and sound studies. They use digital editing suites, and engage in multimedia, animation and production.
The course is a useful introduction to such careers as journalism, film, television and radio, multimedia, editing and media production.
As part of the curriculum in media studies, students learn a variety of computer based non-linear digital editing programs while creating original digital still and video productions. Students also study traditional media production skill sand concepts.
All courses are BSSS approved and cover a wide range of units such as Film studies which include film genre, world cinema, Australian film and gender and film as well as video production, documentary production and multimedia. The Media course also has a strong focus on Television studies, which includes deconstruction of that genre through units such as soaps, series and sitcoms, Children’s Media and Television Drama.
Music
Music provides a range of skills and a base of knowledge through which students can pursue educational and recreational pathways.
Courses explore and develop skills within a diverse range of styles and contexts. Beginning students are welcomed as well as those who wish to pursue music as a career.
Music Industry Course
This course is designed to enable students to enter the dynamic field of contemporary music with skills in production, promotion or performance. Students elect to do one of three streams, and can achieve a nationally recognised Certificate I or II in Music Industry (Foundation). This can lead towards a Certificate III or IV at CIT or various other registered training organisations around Australia.
Work placements are arranged with employers associated with the local music industry, enabling students to gain valuable industry knowledge and contacts. Students participate in live performances as a player, engineer or promoter, and gain competencies through work done in class as well as through work placements.
Jazz music is a significant strength of the college music department and jazz bands are given the opportunity to perform regularly at local and national jazz festivals, school functions and community events.
Photography: Digital, Black and White, Colour
Canberra College offers courses that assist students in the development and understanding of both practical and theoretical aspects of photography and digital photography.
Students are encouraged to explore their own individual photographic style in addition to increasing their appreciation and understanding of the history and artistic aspects of photography.
Photography students can complete a minor, a major or a major/minor.
This course provides excellent knowledge in all aspects of photography and digital imaging and enables students to produce work of exhibition quality.
The Canberra College Photography Department is renowned for achieving a very successful record in local and national photography competitions and exhibitions.
Facilities include black and white and separate colour darkrooms, as well as a fully functional studio and digital laboratory.
Students planning a career in this field will have the opportunity to assemble a folio of photographic work that is suitable for tertiary institutions or employment purposes.
Further details of Arts Faculty courses and units appear in our Handbook.
Kim Walkom and Rod Harding
Executive teachers
Canberra College
Phillip
ACT 2606
Telephone: 02-62055777
