Study plan - Bachelor in Community Arts

This international bachelor degree offers an inter-disciplinary approach through critical arts studies, museum pedagogy, entrepreneurship, and artistic expression and practice in dance, music and visual art in community work. The program focuses on inclusion and art-based approaches to activities within the community which promote personal growth centred around artistic activities.

The program is aimed at students with an interest in making a difference in the community and that want a versatile art-based education that will give the student knowledge, skills and competences for working with children, youths and adults. With this degree the student will qualify to work at community art-centres, non-profit organizations, museums, cultural rucksack programs, day care facilities for schoolchildren, and schools of music and performing arts.

Learning outcomes

Knowledge

The student

• has knowledge about the Arts and ways of working with the Arts in Community Arts activities in different groups and contexts
• has specific knowledge about one of the Arts fields (Music, Visual Arts, Dance)
• has critical knowledge about the Arts in society and culture
• has a variety of practical knowledge about working in the Arts and ways of communicating to and including participants in arts practices in society
• has developed a theoretical and critical understanding of the ways in which meaning pertains in the Arts, and how it impacts participants in arts practices in different contexts.
• has knowledge of relevant topics and practices in research and innovation and in artistic research

Skills

The student

• can express him/herself professionally, artistically and publicly with high quality in a chosen medium
• can initiate, motivate, lead and organize discipline-based as well as interdisciplinary arts activities in different contexts and with different groups of participants
• can use a specter of approaches and ways of working, which invite participation in arts practices irrespective of participants backgrounds
• can demonstrate and lead art activities in ensembles and workshop processes in a number of different ways
• can use technology and digital tools to enhance art activities and expression as well as introducing and using technology as a vital part of inclusive arts activities in different contexts
• can implement, document and communicate his/her own research and innovation processes and practices publicly and to peers
• can reflect critically on his/her own work generally and specifically as a community artist and that of others

General competence

The student

• has developed knowledge about the rights and potentials of every human being to take part in arts activities
• can inspire artistic and social entrepreneurship in a modern and multi-cultural society
• can communicate in and betwixt different arts activities, and lead professional arts community
• can discuss research and development arts activities and communicate aspects thereof to participants in such activities
  

Content

The course is full time. Attendance is compulsory in all modules. As this is a multi-campus program some of the teaching will be online, both synchronous and asynchronous.

Practice

Field study and professional training are central elements in this program. The focus is to give you as a student a versatile experience that will enable you to work as a community artist at various arenas. The practice has a natural progression from being an observer to planning and leading activities on your own.

• First year: 2 weeks
• Second year: 2 weeks
• Third year: 10 weeks

Part of the field study will be integrated in the different subjects. The student must plan and make arrangement for placements by themselves as this is part of the training. HVL must approve all placements and will assist in finalising the contracts. Students who feel ready may start their own community art activities which may be approved as placement training.

Teaching

Various teaching methods will be used depending on the content being taught. The methods will include practical work within all four disciplines, lectures, excursions, fieldwork seminars and group work. All modules require dedication and hard work, and you are expected to be active in class.

Students are required to cover material expenses. Students must have equipment for recording sound and video and for taking photographs. There will be arranged optional excursions.

Assessment

The forms of assessments are diverse and will include projects, portfolio examinations, oral examination and practical tests that are customized to the different learning outcomes.

Required progression

The current progression is as follows:

First year:

• Community Arts-safari
• Experiencing art-based activities in and around Bergen
• Observation – apprentice – leader

Second year:

• Organizing a Community Art activity
• Observation – apprentice – leader

Third year:

• Primary: Leadership practice: Planning and organizing 5-10 arts-based activities.
• Secondary: Observation – apprentice – leader
• Field study for bachelor dissertation

Internationalization

There will be possibilities for student exchange in semester 5 and 6.