Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Arts)

Why choose this course?

QUT is a world leader in the Creative Industries and its Visual Art program offers a distinctive experience of multi-disciplinary arts training. Visual arts at QUT can help you find your niche in the burgeoning local art scene and beyond, by supporting you to define and shape your creative identity.

Through our unique open-studio environment, you will focus on contemporary art practices without being divided into separate media-specific areas, such as painting or sculpture, as in traditional art schools. Practise art across a range of media including video, photography, installation, performance and printmaking, as well as painting and sculpture. This distinctive cross-disciplinary approach encourages fluid, self-directed investigation, crucial to your arts practice.

You can combine your studio training with study areas such as interactive and visual design, event management, entrepreneurship or business to equip you for a range of creative careers.

Real-world learning

Studying visual arts at QUT offers a range of advantages including a flexible degree structure, a unique experimental studio environment and a rigorous program of art history/theory subjects. With opportunities to work on industry-based projects and international tours, you’ll get a broad experience of the contemporary art world.

QUT visual arts graduates are at the heart of innovative artist-run galleries across Brisbane. Our students have developed exciting experimental art spaces such as Boxcopy Contemporary Art Space and LEVEL ARI, and have also been the recipients of the prestigious Samstag Scholarships, Australia, Council and Arts Queensland awards, art prizes such as the Queensland Premier’s New Media Award and the Qantas Spirit of Youth Award, as well as the German DAAD scholarship and numerous international studio residencies.

Highlights

Explore your artistic practice in an open-studio environment, encouraging self-directed investigation.
Opportunity to study a cross-disciplinary approach to explore your art practice across a range of media.
Experience study in both studio practice and art history.
Prepares you to work as a professional artist, curator, creative director, visual designer or arts manager.

Highlights

Explore your artistic practice in an open-studio environment, encouraging self-directed investigation.
Opportunity to study a cross-disciplinary approach to explore your art practice across a range of media.
Experience study in both studio practice and art history.
Prepares you to work as a professional artist, curator, creative director, visual designer or arts manager.

Explore this course

What to expect Career outcomes Details and units Requirements Fees Scholarships

What to expect

Real-world facilities

Our open studio program focuses on interdisciplinary contemporary art practice combining experimental 2D, 3D, digital, spatial, and performance skills. Whether you are planning to become a professional artist, teacher or art professional such as an exhibition curator or arts manager, you will benefit from substantial studio experience while receiving training in your specialist area.

Double degrees

A double degree with business. will broaden your skill set and make you stand out to employers, or give you the abilities to start your own creative enterprise.
If you are looking to apply your creative abilities to education settings or the teaching profession you have some options. You can complete your visual arts degree first and then follow with a Master of Teaching in early childhood, primary or secondary education.* Or you can now undertake a double degree in secondary education at the same time as your visual arts degree.

*Check entry requirements for the Master of Teaching for specific teaching areas.

Career outcomes

Many of our graduates become highly successful practising artists, represented by commercial galleries, and with strong careers in the commissioned and public funding sectors. Graduates also pursue professional careers as curators, program officers or arts managers and are often employed by prestigious galleries and museums both in Australia and internationally.

With specialist training in a related field, our graduates also take up positions as creative directors, visual designers and a range of other occupations in the creative industries sector. We provide grounding in art history and theory that equips you to communicate with clients, curators and employers. We also foster a strong sense of community and entrepreneurialism – our graduates have established successful artist-run initiatives such as Boxcopy
Contemporary Arts Space. Our graduates are also curators and public program officers in museums such as QAGOMA and the Institute of Modern Art (IMA).

Possible careers

Art Project Manager
Artist
Arts Administrator
Curator
Media Industry Specialist
Multimedia Designer
Visual Artist
Visual Arts Teacher