Is fine art for you?

The fine art program is designed to ensure that you are able to gain basic knowledge across a range of fine art disciplines, and encounter ongoing studio-based experience. Read more ...

Practical experience

Courses such as Directed Study give you the opportunity to undertake a semester course of study in association with a lecturer in a studio of your choice. The course can be utilised to approach external bodies such as private and public galleries to research in curatorial practice. Read more ...

Your future

As well as becoming professional artists, as a graduate of this program, you may find employment in arts education, community arts, galleries and museums. Read more ...

Achiever profiles

Why would you do this degree? Find out from graduates, students and academics. Discover how their future is taking shape, and learn first-hand what it's like to study at uni. Read profiles ...

Is fine art for you?

The fine art degree is designed to ensure that you are able to gain practical and critical knowledge across a wide range of fine art disciplines. Our degree is centred on individualised student learning and research where students engage with ongoing studio-based experiences. The art history/theory courses will introduce you to current fine art theory and research methods. In the studio course, you will experience 2D Art (including drawing, painting and printmaking), 3D Art (including ceramics, fibres-textiles and sculpture) and photomedia (including traditional, digital and time based media).

Why study with us?

For many of you, you don't choose art, art chooses you. It is something you have to do; it is part of who you are. So the question really is not so much about why, as it is about how and where.

Fine art is undertaken in a stimulating and supportive learning environment. Fine art boasts a vibrant autonomous student exhibition venue (Watt Space Galleries). A superb art gallery is located adjacent to the studios on-campus which hosts national and international exhibitions. Fine art students have access to a number of grants and awards specifically made available to students studying in our degree.

We also have an active artist-in-residence program and benefit from established links with national and international exchange programs. Fine art has excellent studios and workshops across all of the disciplines. It also boasts a paint laboratory, paper and felt making facilities, a bronze casting foundry and a new purpose built photography facility.

This bachelor of Fine Art was revised in 2011 and the new degree commenced in 2012. Please refer to the program handbook. to see the range of courses now offered in the degree.

Practical experience

The degree provides basic skills across several disciplines with students able to major in 2D art, 3D art or photomedia. Theory based courses provide exposure to professional areas of practice and include art history and theory, museology, professional practice, arts health and community courses. Courses such as Directed Study give you the opportunity to undertake a semester course of study in association with a lecturer in a studio of your choice. This course can also be utilised to approach external bodies such as private and public galleries to experience curatorial practice. Experience in ceramics, fibres-textiles, sculpture, painting, drawing, printmaking, and digital and traditional photography, can be directly applied to professional practice.

Your future

The Bachelor of Fine Art provides excellent training and a broad range of experiences in many aspects of art practice. As well as becoming professional artists, graduates find employment in arts education, community arts, and in galleries and museums. The Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Newcastle will provide you with the skills and attributes needed to be successful in a creative arts career. The degree is a great asset to future employment in a wide range of professions.

Achiever profiles

Linsay

Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours)

Linsay was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) Class 1. Images from her Honours exhibition 'Bad Taste' were published on the front cover of art magazines Real Time and Jet. Linsay was commissioned to produce a body of work for the exhibition Autofetish: Mechanics of Desire, held at the Newcastle Regional Art Gallery.

Gareth

Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours)

Gareth was awarded a Bachelor of Fine Art (Honours) Class 1 and the Faculty Medal. He also won the Jennie Thomas Travelling Scholarship which gave him the opportunity to travel to Italy where he enrolled in a marble carving course at Arco Arte studis. Gareth currently continues to work in his other medium of choice, Huon Pine and also has work in private collections in Sydney, Newcastle and abroad.

Additional entry requirements

As well as submitting a UAC application and meeting the University minimum academic entry requirement you must apply directly to the School of Creative Arts for a portfolio interview. Applicants who do not undertake the portfolio presentation cannot be considered for an offer.

Interview Dates

Interviews for entry the following year are held September-December**

Interviews for mid-year entry are held May-June**

**Specific dates are provided on the application.

Applications are available from the School of Creative Arts or by calling (02) 4921 8900.

A satisfactory interview is a requirement of admission, together with an acceptable level of attainment in Year 12 or equivalent. Applicants are asked to write a short statement briefly describing their work and what they intend to gain from studying fine art. This statement can be expanded upon in the interview with the portfolio providing further elaboration.