Program Requirement
In addition to completing the required coursework associated with the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree offered within the Department of Visual Arts, students are required to complete six (6) approved Creativity and Development Workshops (CDW).
The Department of Visual Arts carefully crafts a calendar of CDW workshops for our Visual Arts majors. This calendar is available for viewing on the department’s website and is published twice a year; one for fall and the second for spring. DoVA’s Creativity and Development Workshops are designed to assist students in developing a variety of skill sets outside of the typical classroom environment. Bachelor of Fine Arts majors in the Visual Arts department will be required to complete six (6) approved workshops from the following categories: (1) Visiting Artist Lecture Series, (2) Experiential Learning in the Arts, (3) Arts & Business (4) Arts and the Institution, or (5) Arts and Survival.
All five categories must be represented in the student’s cumulative workshop requirement.
Categories Defined:
1) Visiting Artist Lecture Series: Eight times a year the Rebecca Randall Bryan Gallery invites their exhibiting artists to discuss the exhibition in a public forum. The public and students will have the opportunity listen, discuss, and directly question the artist about their work.
2) Experiential Learning in the Arts: Students will have the opportunity to complete a variety of experiential learning workshops related to both design and studio art. These workshops may include, but are not limited to internally approved design competitions, environmental art workshops, but are not limited to internally approved design competitions, environmental art workshops, letterpress workshops, etc.
3) Arts and Business: The greatest fear for students in art and design is life after academia. This series of workshops will address how to be successful in a post-school life. Workshops will include, but are not limited to topics related to resume building, exhibition and grant proposals, careers in design and art, etc.
4) Arts and the Institution: Workshops in this category will address a variety of topics. Typically the institution includes academia (preparation for graduate school, etc.), however we are approaching the idea of the institution from a broader perspective. These workshops will include topics such as legal issues in art and design, social engagement, and curation for galleries and/or museums.
5) Arts and Survival: Survival in the world of art and design is always a topic that should be discussed. This series of workshops will address the necessity of adaptation and evolution in a person’s career and process. Workshops will include topics such as the evolving world of art and design, the importance of social communication and promotion as a designer or artist, and how not to burn your career down in a blaze of glory.
In addition to the CDW activities the university and community offer a variety of cultural experiences. These activities can be found in the university Cultural Arts Calendar, as well as at the Art Museum in Myrtle Beach. Published along with the list of workshops will be departmentally approved cultural events that will count towards the six (6) required activities.
All completed and approved CDW activities, or workshops, will be posted to the students’ program evaluation. It is the responsibility of each student to not only maintain their CDW activity record, but ensure that they are fulfilled before graduation. Students must provide the appropriate identification, or school ID, for each event that is attended in order to receive credit. There will be some cases in which students will be required to complete a form, available on the department’s webpage, or reflection in order to obtain credit for the attendance of an event. The Department of Visual Arts will track the participation of the Creativity and Development Workshops, but it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are completed. If an activity is not recorded properly it is the responsibility of the student to bring this to the attention of the department in a timely manner. This appeal must be completed by the end of the semester in which the activity in question took place.
FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SATISFYING DEGREE REQUIREMENTS, AS OUTLINED IN THE UNIVERSITY CATALOG, RESTS WITH THE STUDENT.
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