Vaal University of Technology
A holistic foundation for a successful career in the arts The Vaal University of Technology (VUT) offers Fine Art courses at different levels that emphasise the mission of the university by ensuring that graduates have the academic and technical skills to negotiate the art world effectively and achieve excellence. WORDS: MASHAOLE MAKWELA, FINE ART SENIOR LECTURER AND COURSE COORDINATOR
T
Art by Nombuso Maseko he Fine Art courses offered by the Department of Visual Arts and Design at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) are multidisciplinary in nature. Through research, teaching and
learning, these courses explore both traditional and technological fine art-related disciplines. The core objective of the courses is to equip each individual with the skills to become creative and professional, competent visual practitioners and entrepreneurs sensitive to community and global needs. VUT offers a three-year diploma in Fine Art, a MA in Visual Arts: Fine Art (two years) and a PhD in Visual Arts. An advanced diploma and a post-graduate diploma in Fine Art are currently being registered with the Department of Higher Education (DHE) and will soon be available to those wishing to take their academic knowledge and technical skills to higher levels. The previous Fine Art courses, i.e. the national diploma, BTech, MTech and DTech qualifications, are presently being phased out. State-of-the-art facilities for both traditional (e.g. ceramics, surface printing, sculpture and painting) and technological (e.g. digital arts and product design) artistic making processes are available, a combination that is not found at many other institutions in South Africa. In fact,
40 / Creative Feel / November 2018
Sculpture by Lettah Mantswe, 2015