Focused Study: Contemporary Art and Health

The course is given as a freestanding course.

The aim of the course is to generate knowledge on the expanding multidisciplinary field of contemporary art and health. Each iteration of the course is organised around a particular thematic focus, which shapes the course content. Themes are designed to function as sites of critical investigation, providing a structured framework to consider different theoretical and practical perspectives. Each theme is understood as socially and politically relevant to global contemporary life and able to reflect and make space for multiple experiences and understandings of health.

Students learn about the historical and contemporary development of the chosen theme by studying various case studies of practice. They also explore the specific conditions that apply to artists and artworks in healthcare environments.

The course emphasises the ethical, social, and political challenges involved, and how these influence the development of artistic methods applicable in such contexts. It engages with current debates, paradigm shifts, and institutional decisions that impact the professional relationship between contemporary art production and healthcare settings.

Throughout the course, students work on developing their own project proposal relevant to the theme in focus.

The course requires no prior artistic or healthcare knowledge.

On successful completion of the course, the student should be able to

Knowledge and Understanding

• give an account of methods to design, produce and develop contemporary art in healthcare environments 
• identify relevant ethical aspects of contemporary art in healthcare environments 

Competence and Skills

• analyse a case study of contemporary art situated in a healthcare environment 
• formulate a project proposal for a contemporary art project in a healthcare environment 

Judgement and Approach

• evaluate what skills are required for artists to meaningfully engage with a given theme 
• reflect critically on the effects that contemporary art projects in the field of art and health can have for different stakeholders, such as patients, users, care staff, care providers and other interest groups.

The course is carried out as distance education via the University of Gothenburg's virtual learning environment.

The teaching is conducted in the form of lectures, seminars, workshops and individual creative work. The studies are carried out individually and in groups. In groups, the students will critically discuss and reflect on presented examples and student work.

The language of instruction is English.

Learning outcomes will be examined through

• a project proposal 
• an oral presentation 
• a case study report. 

If a student who has been failed twice for the same examination element wishes to change examiner before the next examination session, such a request is to be granted unless there are specific reasons to the contrary (Chapter 6 Section 22 HF).

If a student has received a certificate of disability study support from the University of Gothenburg with a recommendation of adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment, an examiner may decide, if this is consistent with the course’s intended learning outcomes and provided that no unreasonable resources would be needed, to grant the student adapted examination and/or adapted forms of assessment.

If a course has been discontinued or undergone major changes, the student must be offered at least two examination sessions in addition to ordinary examination sessions. These sessions are to be spread over a period of at least one year but no more than two years after the course has been discontinued/changed. The same applies to placement and internship (VFU) except that this is restricted to only one further examination session.

If a student has been notified that they fulfil the requirements for being a student at Riksidrottsuniversitetet (RIU student), to combine elite sports activities with studies, the examiner is entitled to decide on adaptation of examinations if this is done in accordance with the Local rules regarding RIU students at the University of Gothenburg.

The grading scale comprises: Pass (G) and Fail (U)

Students are given the opportunity to evaluate the course anonymously at the end of the
course. The results of and possible changes to the course will be shared with students who participated in the evaluation and students who are starting the course.

The course assumes access to computer with camera and microphone and Internet
connection.

Any costs for the student's own projects are paid for by the student.