Target Group and Admission Requirements

One year of studies in Norwegian Folk Art or equivalent training and practice.

The study programme is aimed at qualifying successful candidates to work in cultural institutions, training programmes, the school system or private initiatives.

Aim of the Programme

The study programme is designed to provide students with specialised knowledge of Norwegian handicrafts, and in doing so, prepare them to safeguard, promote, develop and educate other people about Norwegian craft traditions. The study programme therefore has a mission of preserving, renewing and mediating cultural handicraft traditions. The primary emphasis of the course is on practicing the crafts.

Further Education opportunities

The study programme may, in combination with the one-year study programme in Norwegian Folk Art III (wood/metal/textiles), form part of a Bachelor’s degree programme in Norwegian Folk Arts. A Bachelor’s degree in Norwegian Folk Arts will qualify students for admission to a Master’s degree programme in Norwegian Folk Arts.

Curriculum and structure

Code Course title Credits O/V *) Credits pr. semester   S1(A) S2(V) S3(A) S4(V) S5(A) S6(V) Total: 30 30 0 0 0 0 *) O - Mandatory course, V - Optional course

The study programme includes two components, the common component and a specialised component. The common component involves acquiring familiarity and insight into the processes of creative handicrafts, the mediation of culture and traditions and insight into research and development work.

The common component includes these subject areas:

• The history of handicrafts
• Research and development methodology

In the specialised component, students may choose between:

• Handicrafts - wood, metal or textiles

The common component is worth 15 ECTS credits and the specialised component is worth 45 ECTS credits.

Electives:

It is possible for students to include a 3-month study-period abroad as part of the specialisation in handicrafts. The stay may be at an educational institution or be in form of field-work planned in cooperation with the subject teacher and the institute’s administration. The elective replaces practice, study-trips and the course unit Preservation/ Passing Down Traditions.

The university college will at all times determine how many specialisation subjects can be offered.

COMMON COMPONENT

Major course unit THE HISTORY OF HANDICRAFTS

The goal of the subject is to place the students’ work with traditional arts and the practical / aesthetic work in the workshop in a wider context. Through the examination of the various themes and perspectives, the student will be able to make the right choices when it comes to preservation / continuation, performance, and dissemination of the arts.

Students will become familiar with other arts and cultural representations, both historically and in modern times, enabling them to view representations in the traditional arts as part of a wider aesthetic tradition, and this in turn will equip them to preserve, continue and renew folk arts. The goal is for students to gain an awareness and ability to reflect upon traditional arts as a phenomenon of our times.

Different forms of expression will be examined in order to place the traditional arts in an artistic and cultural-historical context.

Traditional methods of production and traditional crafts have been exposed to tough competition, because of the development of the consumer society and modern technology. In this context, the concept of quality has become an important issue.

The subject analyses which values are important with regard to the protection and continuation of the traditional arts. Traditional forms of expression will be viewed in a European and global perspective. The study programme provides students with the opportunity to study in a European country so they can gain more knowledge of the common European traditions. It is also possible for students to choose to study for 3 months in a European country as part of their specialisation.

Major course unit R&D - METHODOLOGY

Research and development methodology will provide students with the skills necessary to be able to carry out simple projects and assignments related to the subject of traditional folk arts, and they will be able to assess critically R & D work. The subject will help students to find methods for data collection from museums, archives and other sources and equip them to use this material in practical and theoretical work, thereby achieving the goal of preservation, continuation and renewal of the traditional folk arts.

This subject’s goals also include a well-written overview and good presentation of results from work on specific issues. This presupposes that one takes up principal research questions, but primarily concerns work with suitable strategies and methods for R & D projects in traditional folk arts.

Students will carry out practical activities regarding development work related to the subject in the specialisation part, and document their practical work in a written report. Working with R & D methodology will focus on integrated projects which address issues related to the specialisation part.

Specialisation: HANDICRAFTS - wood, metal or textiles

WORKSHOP SUBJECTS AND AESTHETIC SUBJECTS

This specialisation part builds on the workshop subject in the foundation study programme, Norwegian Folk Art I, and aims to further develop students’ knowledge of Norwegian traditional arts with regard to variations within production methods and aesthetic qualities. Through knowledge in these areas students should be able to work for the preservation, continuation, renewal and dissemination of material design culture. Students must make assessments and choices when designing new products so that the products function as good contemporary products.

Specialising in design is a combination of two major course units: Workshop Subjects and Aesthetic Subjects. These subject areas support and complement each other in students’ work on the design of their own products. The instruction in the workshop subject is related to the supervision of students in their work on the programme assignments. In addition, there will be some training weeks where topics will vary from year to year. Theoretical teaching in the workshop subject will involve an in-depth examination of topics covered in the foundation programme.

Themes that are discussed in the common part, will be involved in influencing the design of new products. Work on the workshop subjects and aesthetic subjects is divided up thematically into project periods where students are involved in work concerning preservation / continuation, renewal and dissemination.

The study programme includes three assignments during the year related to the course units Experimentation, Renewal and Preservation / Continuation. These assignments are programme requirements that must be completed and included in the portfolio assessment. During the last period of the academic year, roughly a 10-week period, students will work with a year-assignment, exhibition with a written account.

In the workshop subject, students may choose between working with wood, metal or textiles.

Students will also be given the opportunity to study abroad.

Year-assignment, exhibition with written account

The year-assignment is an important part of the study programme and will encompass the different subjects on which the study programme is based: workshop subjects, aesthetic subjects, R & D methodology and subject didactics. The content of the year-assignment should include the combined activities from formulation of idea, planning, design / production and presentation / communication of results. The theme must be approved by the class leader and subject teacher before the student starts on his/her year-assignment.

Course weeks / theme teaching:
The study programme will also focus on specialisation / specialisation of certain techniques / themes. These course weeks will be taught in parallel with the work on some of the course units. Participation is mandatory. Students will also submit a report following each course / theme week

Study trip:
The advanced study programmes in folk art and folk music both share a mandatory study trip to a European country. Hungary and Slovakia have been chosen, because these countries are rich in traditions with regard to both folk art and folk music. The study programme has acquired good academic networks in these countries, both with educational institutions, organisations and traditional artists and musicians.
Students who cannot participate in the obligatory study trip must complete an assignment on European folk art. This will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

ELECTIVE COURSE UNIT

European folk art:
Students may choose to study abroad (three months), which will provide them with the opportunity to become familiar with the traditions of the place they are visiting. By contrast and comparison with the local traditions the student will be encouraged to view Norwegian folk art in a wider artistic and cultural context.

The study trip may take the form of fieldwork in which the student makes contact with local artists and researchers. This type of fieldwork must first be prepared in consultation with teaching staff and the department and in agreement with the local artists and researchers. The study trip may also involve studies under the direction of a local educational institution, in the case where there exists a formal agreement between the aforementioned institution and Telemark University College.

The content of such studies will vary dependent on which materials the student is using, which institution the student is studying at, and the traditions of the local area.

Example:
The department has a well-developed network in Hungary. Students will be affiliated with the Moholy-Nagy University of Arts and Crafts in Budapest, the museum in Budapest and will be in contact with the traditional Hungarian folk artists and craftsmen.

Working methods will vary and may include fieldwork that involves participating observation, registration work, individual training in the local traditions and lectures and group work. Students may also follow a specially adapted teaching schedule at the local institution.

The assessment will vary depending on the form and content of the period of study abroad. If it involves fieldwork, then the student must complete a report which must be approved by the subject teacher. If the study trip has been of a practical nature, the results should be presented through an exhibition. The study trip will be assessed on a pass/fail basis.

In the case of a more formal period of study abroad, an alternative may be for the student to take an examination at the local institution according to local guidelines.

The course unit European Folk Art will replace practice, the study trip and the course unit Preservation / Passing Down Traditions.

Teaching and Learning Methods

Specialisation in arts, crafts and design aims to provide students with continuation / specialisation in Norwegian traditional arts and provide them with skills so they are able to work with the preservation, continuation, renewal and dissemination of traditional arts and crafts. The various subject areas will shed light on and advance this objective. An attempt is therefore made to plan the academic year so that the elements of the study programme are related to each other and the teaching of the specific elements is characterised by progression during the course of the year.

The year has been divided up into longer assignment periods, which take the form of project work, so that the students will be able to specialise in various subjects. The main themes of the assignment periods will be key concepts such as preservation, continuation and renewal; they will be concluded with exhibitions.
A longer project period of about 10 weeks will include work on the year-assignment, which will finally also include exhibition / presentation.

Teaching and learning methods will vary between lectures, group work, project work, excursions, individual supervision in workshops and in classrooms, seminars and courses.
The study programme requires active participation by the students, and the students are responsible for their own learning.

The study programme includes a large degree of self-study, both in the workshop subject in the work with historical material (museums, registration work, etc.).
Mandatory attendance is required for the introduction of new topics, both practical and theoretical; theme weeks and the seminar with the joint review of assignments.

The subject related 10-day study abroad is mandatory. The programme may also include shorter study trips in Norway.

Assessment Methods

There should be some agreement between aims, content and assessment in the programme. The ongoing assessment will provide students with feedback on how assignments have been completed, and what they need to focus on further in the programme. The assessment of assignments, examinations, and programme requirements, which must be completed in order to be allowed to take the examination, will be collected in the students’ portfolios.

Examination / weighting

The various parts of the programme are weighted in the following manner in relation to the final grade:

• Year-assignment 40%
• Written examination in arts and handicrafts theory 20%
• Student portfolio 40%

A single grade will be entered on the diploma on a grade scale A to F, where A is the highest grade and E the lowest passing grade.

Minor adjustments may occur during the academic year, subject to the decision of the Dean