Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts

Purpose

The qualification will enable learners to acquire practical, intellectual, communal, educational and entrepreneurial applications.

Upon qualifying the learner will be able to

• Engage in community development.
• Demonstrate proficiency in creative practice in fine and applied arts.
• Demonstrate proficiency in conceptualising art and applied art products.
• Demonstrate proficiency in entrepreneurial and professional practice in fine and applied arts.
• Utilise knowledge acquired in the field of Visual Arts in a range of contexts.

Rationale

The Diploma in Fine and Applied Arts will comprise two existing qualifications: the National Diploma (Fine Art) and the National Diploma (Textile Design and Technology). The reasons for merging two qualifications into a single, new Diploma are as follows:

• To cater for the specific needs of the creative industries sector. The sector serves arts, crafts and design, and more broadly culture, education and society.
• The creative industries in South Africa and internationally are enjoying unprecedented growth, thus this qualification will enable learners to enter into this field as artists, applied artists, crafts makers, educators and product developers.
• Upon completion of this qualification learners can enter into careers such as painter, sculptor, printmaker, photographer, ceramist, portrait artist, muralist, glass blower, art teacher, art consultant, art therapist, visual aids artist, art historian, library and exhibition artist, stained glass designer, restorer, guide, gallery owner, art dealer, display artist, training aids artist, cartographer, draughtsman, combat artist, sign painter, illustrator, art editor, art publisher, layout artist, special effects artist, police artist, stylist, foundry artist, and model maker.

In addition, this qualification creates a learning pathway for learners as they will be able to use the advanced knowledge to pursue qualifications in fine and applied art (such as an Advanced Diploma, Post-Graduate Diploma, Masters' Degree and Doctoral Degree).

Lastly, the qualification will enable learners to contribute to the economy they will be trained as artists/applied artists/crafts people who will be able to serve and contribute to society in line with social and economic transformation, through entrepreneurial endeavours. They will be empowered with creative and artistic skills and abilities: visual and manual skills in art and applied arts; creativity; research skills and conceptual and critical thinking. All these contribute to a vocation or career as an artist or applied artist, and thereby to arts, culture and society.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

The structure of this qualification makes the Recognition of Prior Learning possible. This qualification may therefore be achieved in part or completely through the recognition of prior learning, which includes informal and non-formal learning and work experience in the field of fine and applied arts. The learner will be thoroughly briefed on the mechanism to be used and support and guidance will be provided.

The assessment of individual learners against the exit level outcomes of the qualification will be performed in-line with the RPL Policy of the institution on a case-by-case basis. Such procedures, and the assessment of individual cases, are subject to moderation by independent-assessors. The necessary evidence as required by the Exit Level Outcomes, will be presented by the learner, and should meet the following principles: currency of evidence, sufficiency of evidence, validity of evidence and authenticity of evidence.

Care will be taken that the mechanism used provides the learner with an opportunity to demonstrate competence and is not so onerous as to prevent learners from taking up the RPL option towards gaining a qualification.

This qualification consists of compulsory modules at NQF Levels 5 and 6 and elective modules at NQF Level 6, totalling 360 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 5, 174 Credits

• Computer Literacy 1, 10 Credits.
• Life Skills 1, 2 Credits.
• Information Literacy 1, 2 Credits.
• Communication for Academic Purposes 1, 10 Credits.
• Drawing 1, 20 Credits.
• 3D Arts 1 (Sculpture, Glass, Ceramics), 24 Credits.
• 2D Arts 1 (Painting, Printmaking), 18 Credits.
• Design Studies 1 (Surface Design, Fibre Arts), 18 Credits.
• Digital Design 1, 7 Credits.
• WIL 1, 30 Credits.
• Professional Practice 1, 7 Credits.
• Visual Theory 1, 16 Credits.
• Entrepreneurship 1, 10 Credits.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 6, 76 Credits

• Drawing 2, 18 Credits.
• Visual Theory 2: Africa in context, 18 Credits.
• Elective 1, 20 Credits.
• Elective 2, 20 Credits.

Electives, NQF Level 6

(Select two)

• Ceramics 2.
• Fibre Arts 2.
• Glass 2.
• Painting 2.
• Printmaking 2.
• Sculpture 2.
• Surface Design 2.

Compulsory Modules, NQF Level 6, 110 Credits

• Drawing 3, 16 Credits.
• Digital Design 2, 6 Credits.
• Professional Practice 2, 6 Credits.
• Visual Theory 3, 16 Credits.
• WIL 2, 30 Credits.
• Elective 3, 18 Credits.
• Elective 4, 18 Credits.

Electives, NQF Level 6

(Select two)

• Ceramics 3.
• Fibre Arts 3.
• Glass 3.
• Painting 3.
• Printmaking 3.
• Sculpture 3.
• Surface Design 3.

1. Utilise knowledge acquired in the field of Visual Arts in a range of contexts.
2. Demonstrate proficiency in entrepreneurial and professional practice in fine and applied arts.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in conceptualising art and applied art products.
4. Demonstrate proficiency in creative practice in fine and applied arts.
5. Engage in community development.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 1

• The influence of historic developments in fine and applied art on visual art products is identified and described.
• Critical commentaries on current debates and discourse in the fields of fine and applied arts are composed.
• Fundamental research methodology is applied in collecting, analysing, and critically evaluating information for a range of projects in fine and applied arts.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 2

• Activities such as exhibitions/marketing/advertising are planned, organised and managed responsibly and effectively.
• Entrepreneurial/small business opportunities are identified, documented and their potential education and career opportunities explored.
• Generic academic, written and visual skills are applied effectively to communicate in a range of academic, public and workplace contexts.
• Oral, curatorial, technical and business skills, together with an understanding of professional practice, are demonstrated in assignments/projects/exhibitions within the area of arts specialisation.
• Market trends/contemporary audiences/merchandising are evaluated to identify opportunities for employment/self-employment/employment of others in fine and applied arts.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 3

• Formal design and conceptual principles of the fine and applied arts are interpreted appropriately.
• The expressive potential of materials and techniques of the elective discipline are identified and explored.
• Themes are interpreted in an original way and reflected in expressive designs.
• Personal conceptual development of source material and iconography is demonstrated through creative experimentation.
• Solutions to problems in the elective discipline are developed through research, critical reflection and creative thinking.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 4

• Art/applied art suitable for the creative industries is produced independently.
• Original thought and judgment is demonstrated in applying appropriate techniques and technology in executing a production in fine/applied art.
• Studio practice is demonstrated for specific disciplinary knowledge, originality and competence in art making and design.
• Problem-solving skills are applied to critically evaluate creative processes in studio practice.
• Technical skills are explored expressively through original experimentation with methods, media, techniques and technology.

Associated assessment criteria for Exit Level Outcome 5

• The application of scholarship and technology reflecting a critical and responsible approach toward the environment and the health/well-being of others is demonstrated.
• Community-based projects reflecting an understanding of the relatedness of systems are shown.
• Engagement in a range of social interaction contexts with local/national/international communities is characterised by cultural and aesthetic awareness.

Integrated assessment

This is to ensure that the purpose of the qualification is achieved. The following types of integrated assessment will be used to provide formative and summative assessment of every subject in the qualifications, against specific criteria appropriate to the subject and level:

• Portfolio assessment.
• Practical workbook assessment.
• Project assessment.
• Written assignments.
• Written tests.
• Written examinations.

Assessment practices must be open, transparent, fair, valid, and reliable and ensure that no learner is disadvantaged in any way whatsoever, which is ensured by the use of group critiques; assessment by marking panels; use of examiners, second examiners and moderators; and external moderation of exit level subjects. Assessment should ensure that all the exit level outcomes are evaluated in an integrated manner.