Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to source information on history and theory and to apply that information to one's own area of work. This unit is introductory in nature and provides underpinning skills and knowledge for all areas of arts practice.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Prerequisite units 

This unit underpins many specialisation units, and combined assessment and/or training with those units is highly recommended.

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised  text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Collect information on history and theory .

1.1 Identify and access relevant sources of information  on history and theory in a culturally appropriate way.

1.2 Gather and organise information systematically.

2 Apply information to own area of work .

2.1 Review information as it relates to artistic practice  in general and to a particular area of work.

2.2 Select information  which is relevant to own area of work.

2.3 Use relevant information in a culturally appropriate way to develop an understanding  of own area of work.

Required Skills and knowledge 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills :

• literacy skills sufficient to source, understand and apply information on history and theory.

Required knowledge :

• general knowledge about sources of information on history and theory for arts practice and own area of arts practice
• general knowledge about how to organise information relating to history and theory and how to apply this information to own area of work
• awareness of copyright, moral rights and intellectual property issues and legislation as it relates to using information in own work.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

• application of selected information about history and theory to the development of understanding of own area of work
• overview knowledge of aspects of art history/theory as they apply to a particular area of work.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

The assessment context must provide for:

• project or work activities that allow the candidate to source information and apply to a particular work context.

Method of assessment 

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

• case studies to assess ability to apply information to different work contexts
• questioning and discussion of the candidate's intention and work outcome
• written or verbal reports on the application of selected information on history and theory to own area of work
• review of portfolios of evidence
• third party workplace reports of performance by the candidate.

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy) and the needs of particular groups (e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties e.g. speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Assessment of this unit requires access to history and theory information sources.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised  wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Sources of information  may include:

• cultural, historical, scientific texts
• film, video, web
• images, objects
• journal articles
• oral histories
• performances
• performances/presentations
• religious and spiritual texts
• stories
• technical or medium specific information.

Information  may relate to:

• aesthetics
• criticism
• cultural issues
• gender and identity issues
• histories of art, craft and design
• histories of performance/presentations and related skills
• land and place
• new technologies
• politics
• spiritual concerns
• world histories.

Information  may be:

• oral
• performance-based
• stories
• written.

Gathering  and collating involves systematically organising information  by means of:

• diagrams, charts
• files, scrapbooks, diaries
• mind maps
• sketches.

Artistic practice  may involve one, or more than one, area of the arts including:

• arts administration
• dance
• design
• multi-media
• music
• photoimaging
• visual arts and contemporary craft
• writing.

Understanding  of own work may be enhanced by review of information on:

• current trends
• historical developments in a particular area
• the work of artists generally
• the work of others in a particular field.