Master of Community Cultural Development Practice

Overview

The Master of Community Cultural Practice aims to address increasing work opportunities in the field of community cultural development (CCD) and cross-sectoral community based arts practice.

Description

The course aims to provide an intensive learning experience for artists/animateurs from all art forms, who have a commitment to social justice and to the role of art as a process for intervention.

The course responds to the fields expressed training needs, and will incorporate studies in CCD practice, context, process and theory, and specifically aim to engage artists/animateurs experientially through the development of practical, theoretical and management skill, vital to career development in this field.

Objectives

The course will:

• provide opportunities for students of proven ability, to undertake advanced work in the area of community cultural development practice;
• encourage professional work practices;
• promote critical reflection on the role of the professional artist working in the wider community;
• create a climate of research, critical analysis and discourse relating to ‘best practice’ in contemporary community cultural development practice, and
• encourage the consolidation of community cultural development praxis.

Prerequisites

An honour's degree within a relevant discipline with at least an H2B (70%) grade average or equivalent, or a postgraduate diploma in Community Cultural Development (CCD) Practice with at least an H2B (70%) grade average.

Generic Skills

At the completion of the course or subject students should be able to:

• exhibit extensive theoretical and practical knowledge of their discipline including relevant professional knowledge, skills, discipline and ethics as they relate to a practising artist working in diverse CCD contexts;
• demonstrate capacities for artistic imagination, creativity, transformation and interpretation;
• demonstrate practical skills in respect of critical analysis, problem solving, report writing, team work and oral and written communication;
• demonstrate a flexible and innovative approach to the national and international challenges for the professional artist working in CCD practice in the 21st century;
• work at various levels, both as an individual and as a team member, in a wide variety of artistic and community environments;
• contribute to a range of cross-sectoral environments as artistic collaborators and leaders;
• demonstrate an open, independent and inquiring attitude towards contemporary cultural developments and new ideas;
• critically and creatively engage with topics of cultural significance across communities;
• understand and appreciate how all the arts connect with the broader society and contribute to its social and economic development, and
• understand their relationship with and responsibility to their cultural environment and society.

Student Commitment

Students are expected to commit to a minimum 164 hours formal contact plus 816 hours private study including research, reading and assignment preparation.

Qualification for Award

The award Master of Community Cultural Development Practice requires the successful completion of the prescribed subjects and the gaining of a total of 100 credit points.

Subjects by Year

Year 1

• 754-809 - Research Project
• 754-810 - Community Cultural Develoment Praxis
• 754-811 - Field Based Project A
• 754-812 - Field Based Project B

Subjects

Year 1

Subject description:

Students will undertake a community cultural development project including a detailed proposal for the project and present a theoretical framework to underpin their critical analysis of CCD praxis.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to;

• display advanced ability for critical analysis and intellectual discourse;
• confidently communicate verbal and written skills;
• exhibit the skills to interpret, analyse and problem solve;
• demonstrate an understanding of the community facilitation and management skills incorporated in community cultural development practice.

Assessment:

Submission of project documentation (25%); a written project report of 4,000 words (50%); presentation of project outcomes to a jury of professionals (25%).

Time Commitment:

240 hours including research

Subject description:

Seminars discussions will examine a diverse range of projects exploring community cultural development intent and content, and the strategic methods which artists/arts workers have employed in referencing and responding to the social, political and cultural agenda in the community.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• display advanced ability for critical analysis and intellectual discourse;
• confidently communicate verbal and written skills;
• exhibit the skills to interpret, analyse and problem solve; and,
• demonstrate an understanding of the community facilitation and management skills incorporated in community cultural development practice.

Assessment:

Submission of seminar documentation (25%); a written report of 4,000 words (50%); presentation of project outcomes to a panel of professionals (25%).

Time Commitment:

4 hours per week of seminars and tutorials

Subject description:

Students will establish and prepare:

• a detailed proposal and implementation plan for their field based project, integrating CCD theory and practice methodology. This will include presentation of the project’s intent, including the integration of the student’s personal, conceptual and art form basis for the realization of their community based are project;and,
• a collaborative project management model, including the student’s recommenced methodology for community research, planning and implementation as a community based outcome.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject student should be able to:

• undertake advanced working the area of community cultural development practice;
• encourage professional work practices;
• promote critical reflection on the role of the professional artist working in the wider community;
• create a climate of research, critical analysis and discourse relating to ‘best practice’ in contemporary community cultural development practice, and
• encourage the consolidation of community cultural development praxis.

Assessment:

Submission of project plan (50%); a written report detailing CCD theory and specific practice methodology of 4,000 words (50%).

Time Commitment:

250 hours including research & preparation

Subject description:

Students will implement their CCD field based project plan as developed in Field Based Project A. Students will undertake their project and document the application of CCD theory integrated in their specific art practice methodology; and evaluate their collaborative project management model, including their methodology for community research and planning.

Objectives:

On completion of this subject students should be able to:

• undertake advanced work in the area of community culturalural development practice;
• encourage professional work practices;
• promote critical reflection on the role of the professional artist working in the wider community;
• create a climate of research, critical analysis and discourse relating to ‘best practice’ in contemporary community cultural development practice, and
• encourage the consolidation of community cultural development praxis.

Assessment:

A written report of 4,000 words, documenting all the stages of project implementation (50%); presentation of project outcomes to a panel of professionals (50%).

Time Commitment:

34 hours