Work plan for application for post graduate studies at a university for arts

Question

This is the third and last part of the application form. Any suggestions? Any mistakes you could correct?

Question:
Work plan *
A work period at the *** offers you working space in an international community and access to a range of facilities. Which work or research do you intend to undertake under these conditions? Please describe the general direction of your workplan.

Answer:
Given the international community present at the *** combined with the numerous and varied facilities, I intend to concetrate on 3 main things there.

1. I want to deepen my knowlegde of different materials and techniques – from fotography and printing, the use of different plastics and papers to the technical knowlegde of electronics to create artistic machinery. I don’t simply want to learn on these topics theoretically, but use these new materials and methods in a series of new workpieces – all dedicated to one theme. With this method I will be able to compare different materials and techniques and their “usability” for my artistic aims. Moreover this would give me the possibility to test new combinations of techniques and/or materials.
A possible topic for these workpieces may be the social changes in the Netherlands, which were highlighted by rise and murder of Pim Fortyun as well as the murder of Theo Van Gogh and the social and cultural/ethnic clashes in its aftermath.

2. I’m working most of the time on my own for different reasons. One of the reasons is, that in Austria sculptering with paper and to a lesser extent with plastics is rarely practised, so there are only a few artists around, I could work with or even exchange views, hints and tips. This type of self-sufficiency is not freely choosen, therefore I intend to take part in a more collective working process with other artists at the ***. This could be everything from discussions and debates of my work or the work of others to joint projects with one other artist or even a whole group of artists.

3. Since the *** doesn’t provide a class-based education scheme (which I enjoyed in the past) but a studio-based cooperative environment , I’m convinced, that I can clarify what I need to pursue my personal way of being artist, especially in comparison to concepts and ways to deal with these carrier-questions by other participants of the residency-scheme of the ***.

Beside the possibilities provided by the ***, the simple fact of being abroad will take me out of my daily routine and therefore allow a higher concentration on the development of my artistic potential as this would be possible in Vienna.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello again Tanja

I think I understand now. Shall I start with this one?

MrP

Tanja7301 · Answer

Hello MrP

Yes please, But if you prefer, you can also start with the other one...
Thanks Tanja

Tanja7301 · Answer

Forgot to tell you that you can find the other textes under "new day, new try"
Tanja

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello again Tanja

It's a wet lunchtime here, so I thought I would start now.

This is my first draft. The sub-headings are provisional. I have edited it very slightly for grammar, spelling, and idiomatic usage; in some places I've tried to compress the text a little. In such places I've tried to keep the meaning as close to your original as possible, but let me know if I've inadvertently changed it anywhere. Once I've looked at your other texts, I'll come back to this one and see whether it needs adjusting, to make it consistent with what you've said elsewhere. (May I ask what your first language is? Sometimes it's easier to follow the sense of a passage if I know the first language of the writer.)

Just one question: your answers mostly respond to the first part of the question, which states what *** will offer you. It seems to me that you also need to provide a summary of the artistic work you plan to do at ***. Is this already prepared? If so, we could include it at the end of this part.

Question:
Work plan *
A work period at the *** offers you working space in an international community and access to a range of facilities. Which work or research do you intend to undertake under these conditions? Please describe the general direction of your workplan.

Answer:
Given the international community present at the ***, and the numerous and varied facilities it possesses, I intend to concentrate on 3 main areas:

Technical skills
I want to broaden my knowledge of different materials and techniques, including photography, printing, the use of different plastics and papers, and the technical knowledge of electronics that is necessary for creating artistic machinery. However, I do not want simply to acquire theoretical knowledge: I want to use these new materials and methods in a series of new artworks, all dedicated to the one theme. With experience of such methods, I will be better placed to compare different materials and techniques and their 'usability' in terms of my artistic aims. Moreover, this knowledge would allow me to test new combinations of techniques and/or materials.

One possible theme for these artworks could be 'social changes in the Netherlands', in view of the career and murder of Pim Fortyun, the murder of Theo Van Gogh, and the social and cultural/ethnic clashes that resulted from these events.

Interaction with other artists
At the moment, I work mostly on my own. This is primarily because in Austria, sculpting with paper (and to a lesser extent plastics) is rarely practised, so there are very few artists with whom I can work or exchange technical information and ideas. However, I would prefer to engage in a more 'collective' method of working. This could range from discussions and debates about my work or the work of others to joint projects with other artists or even whole groups of artists. Working in the international community at *** would at last make this possible.

Learning opportunities
The *** provides a studio-based co-operative environment, rather than a strictly class-based education scheme. I have enjoyed studying in class-based schemes in the past, but am now convinced that in order to develop as an artist, I should move on to a residency scheme such as the one at ***, where tutors can offer one-to-one help with individual work, and where participants can engage in a process of reciprocal tuition through collective workshops.

My hope is that a year's residency at *** will allow me to concentrate wholly on questions of content and technique, while providing a comprehensive system of support for artistic development.

Tanja7301 · Answer

Hi MrPedantic!

you are doing a wonderful job. My first language is German and I didn´t practice English very much in the last two years because of learnig spanish quite intense!

This programm I want to join lasts for one year. I don´t know what kinds of artwork come to my mind during a year - so can´t plan the exact work I want to do there. I just can give an example ... So honestly the only think I can say about the planned work is:

"One possible theme for these artworks could be 'social changes in the Netherlands', in view of the career and murder of Pim Fortyun, the murder of Theo Van Gogh, and the social and cultural/ethnic clashes that resulted from these events.

I want to use new materials and methods in a series of new artworks, all dedicated to this one theme. With this methode, I will be better placed to compare different materials and techniques and their 'usability' in terms of my artistic aims. ."

Not much to say, I know...

Teaching methods (maybe not the right subtitle - because it is about taking given chances):

What I want to say with this sentences: I studied so much in a class-situation (means: you have a teacher and 50 students and the teacher talks to you about your work once eyery 6 month). The advantage of the system they use is that their teachers are known artists and technical experts and they focus on individual work (and working process). They offer individual discussions and help in your own studio! They also offer workshops for all participants together. So you can choose what you need: individuell help or
a collective workshop to try or discuss new things.
So the think I want to say is:
This way of support will help me much on my way because so I will be able to concentrate on artistic problems I have (eg. Content, technical skills,...)more effective. And in this year at the academy I will use this chance to work out this things.
Maybe that´s not a part of a work plan but it is toplisted on my own personal work plan for this year!

Thanks for your patience
Tanja

MrPedantic · Answer

I understand - I'll amend and repost later.

See you
MrP

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello Tanja

I've made some adjustments to the text above, to work in your comments.

The last paragraph isn't quite right, but it may be easier to come back to it when we've looked at the other 2 sections.

I don't think we can use 'method' where you suggest 'With this method, etc', since 'method' would be quite a weak word in English in this context. To my ears, 'Methode' in German has a slightly stronger sound. So I've tried something different. But if you don't like it, just tell me!

'Class-based' is also difficult, in English, as it's usually reserved for political discussion. At the moment I can't think of a suitable synonym, but will return to it at some later stage.

As I say, if there are any parts you're unhappy with, just say, and we'll find an alternative.

Bye for now,
MrP

Tanja7301 · Answer

Good morning, MrP (Is it morning inyour country?)

"Methode" in german is more like strategy or line of action.

The german word for "class-based" is "Klassenverband". I did not find any english word for that, maybe because this kind of teaching doesn´t exist in your school-system. What about something like "ex-cathedra teaching" ?

Well if there is no word for that, maybe I need to skip the whole paragraph...

Have a nice day
Tanja

MrPedantic · Answer

Indeed, yes! I'm only over in the UK.

We'll find a word for 'class-based'. Not to worry.

MrP

Tanja7301 · Answer

Good morning MrP!

I had some discussions with a former teacher of me and decided to shorten this text also. I think it concentrates now much more on the things I want to do - And there are no more problems with "class-based"!
What do you think about it?

Tanja

Given the international community present at the ***, and the numerous and varied facilities it possesses, I intend to concentrate on 2 main areas:

Technical skills
I want to broaden my knowledge of different materials and techniques, including metall, photography, printing, the use of different plastics and papers, and the technical knowledge of electronics that is necessary for creating artistic machinery. However, I do not want simply to acquire theoretical knowledge: I want to use these new materials and methods in a series of new artworks, all dedicated to the one theme. With experience of such methods, I will be better placed to compare different materials and techniques and their 'usability' in terms of my artistic aims. Moreover, this knowledge would allow me to test new combinations of techniques and/or materials.

One possible theme for these artworks could be 'social changes in the Netherlands', in view of the career and murder of Pim Fortyun, the murder of Theo Van Gogh, and the social and cultural/ethnic clashes that resulted from these events.

Interaction with other artists
At the moment, I work mostly on my own. This is primarily because in Austria, sculpting with paper (and to a lesser extent plastics) is rarely practised, so there are very few artists with whom I can work or exchange technical information and ideas. However, I would prefer to engage in a more 'collective' method of working. This could range from discussions and debates about my work or the work of others to joint projects with other artists or even whole groups of artists. Working in the international community at *** would at last make this possible.

My hope is that a year's residency at *** will allow me to concentrate wholly on questions of content and technique, while providing a comprehensive system of support for artistic development.

Work plan for application for post graduate studies at a university for arts

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