Public art is art in any media that has been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the public domain. The term public art is especially significant within the art world, amongst curators, commissioning bodies and practitioners of public art, to whom it signifies a particular work practice, often with implications of site specificity, community involvement and collaboration.
Experienced artists usually create public art. At this level, the artist may already be skilled in one or more art forms and is exploring and experimenting specifically to create work for public spaces. Work is either independent or collaborative with some mentored guidance as required.
More complex skills associated with the professional aspects of completing a public art project are covered in the unit CUVPUA601A Realise a public art project.
Not applicable.
1. Develop ideas for public artworks | 1.1 Identify and explore a broad range of information relevant to public art 1.2 Critically evaluate findings in the context of own practice and the work of others 1.3 Collaborate with relevant people about public art projects 1.4 Evaluate potential or actual sites and the practical and creative relationships between site and work 1.5 Consider practical and organisational issues associated with public art 1.6 Confirm ideas for public art based on research, reflection and collaboration |
2. Experiment with techniques and media for integration in public art | 2.1 Explore and experiment with a broad range of advanced techniques and materials, tools and equipment to achieve different effects 2.2 Take account of safety and sustainability considerations associated with the use of different techniques and media 2.3 Research, adapt and use relevant ideas and approaches with consideration of intellectual property requirements |
3. Establish and organise resources for public artwork | 3.1 Assess specific resource requirements that arise from the use of techniques and experimental approaches 3.2 Research and evaluate costs and other constraints that may impact on work 3.3 Research and access sources of supply 3.4 Organise and maintain resources according to safety and other workplace or project requirements |
4. Create the work | 4.1 Realise public artwork using techniques and media selected from research and experimentation 4.2 Evaluate and respond to the potential for change as work progresses 4.3 Develop own ways of working to create individual style 4.4 Identify and resolve technical problems in projects based on developing expertise 4.5 Establish and follow safe work practices throughout the production of the public artwork |
5. Evaluate own work | 5.1 Regularly review work in progress in the context of personal, professional and artistic objectives 5.2 Identify and respond to opportunities for refinement and re-thinking 5.3 Evaluate the work process in terms of its efficiency and effectiveness 5.4 Evaluate finished work in terms of its coherence with the project concept, technical resolution and suitability for intended purpose |
Required skills
communication and teamwork skills to:
engage in critical discourse about creative objectives
work collaboratively with others on the production of public art
initiative and enterprise skills to:
experiment with techniques to produce effects that enhance the final work
apply critical thinking and analytical skills when developing ideas for public art
learning skills to:
refine and improve a range of techniques
evaluate quality of own work and identify ways to enhance own practice
literacy skills to interpret information and material about the work of other artists involved in the production of public art
numeracy skills to evaluate resource costs
self-management and planning skills to:
undertake research to inform experimentation in public art
plan work tasks so that all deadlines are met
technical skills to evaluate, adapt and integrate a range of public art techniques
technology skills to search the internet for information to assist with the development of public art.
Required knowledge
different types of public art
factors that affect the relationship between public artworks and the sites where they are located
different roles and responsibilities of people typically involved in public art
practical and organisational considerations for different types of public art
historical and theoretical contexts for public artwork and how they may be used to inform own ideas for work
legislative requirements for development approval or building consent
elements and principles of design and how they may be used, adapted and challenged in the creation of work
intellectual property issues and legislation associated with public artwork
sustainability considerations for public art in relation to different types of project and sites
typical safety issues that apply to the creation of public art.
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.
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: produce examples of resolved public artwork that show well-developed command of selected techniques, processes and materials apply knowledge of the particular issues that need to be considered in creating works of art for public spaces. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure access to: a space/location in which to install and exhibit public art relevant tools, materials and equipment. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct observation of the work in progress, including exploration of, and experimentation with, techniques evaluation of technical execution of work produced by the candidate evaluation of the work documentation questioning and discussion about candidate’s intentions and the work outcome review of portfolios of evidence review of third-party reports from experienced practitioners. 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, such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling). |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: CUVACD506A Refine 2-D design ideas and processes CUVACD507A Refine 3-D design ideas and processes refine technique specialisation units investigate materials and processes specialisation units. |
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.
Public art: | may consist of work that is: devised by an individual artist the outcome of a community development process the result of a collaboration between artists may involve: animation architectural forms digital and video work ephemeral art floor pieces incorporation of the natural environment light work murals sculptures in time and space site-specific work sound work textile installations use of water wall pieces. |
Relevant people may include: | clients colleagues industry practitioners local government personnel managers mentors performers representatives from commissioning body supervisors volunteers. |
Practical and organisational issues may relate to: | client and user expectations environment in which public art will be viewed local government and planning authority regulations materials quality of final product timelines tools weather considerations. |
Research may involve: | approaching individuals with relevant expertise attending lectures and talks conducting community consultation conducting material and technical experiments and tests establishing a management plan identifying and investigating a range of public artworks searching the internet seeking out information in books, journals and newspapers visiting exhibitions, museums and theatres. |
Safety and sustainability considerations may include: | audience safety federal, state and territory legislation, regulations and standards need for a conservation plan personal protection recycling requirements to seek approval or permission safe disposal of waste. |
Intellectual property requirements may relate to: | copyright laws design licensing regulations extent to which the work may be used form of acknowledgement or credit moral right laws procedures for seeking permission to use the work of others, including systems for the administration of copyright protocols for the adaptation of work by others trademarks regulations. |
Cost and other constraints may relate to: | availability of materials and tools budgeting geography or location requirements for development or building consent sponsorship timeframe weather. |
Sources of supply may include: | commercial outlets found objects and materials manufacturing or factory waste nature. |
Opportunities for refinement and re-thinking may relate to: | collaboration ideas materials processes techniques workflow. |
Efficiency and effectiveness may relate to: | aesthetic quality of the work completion on budget completion on time positive or negative impact on own health success in communicating ideas technical standard of work. |
Coherence with the project concept may relate to: | connection of ideas within the work connections or divergence in process between initial concept and final product materials processes techniques. |
Visual communication – public art
This unit contains employability skills.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.