Welcome to the Department of Art History and Film Studies
The Department was founded in 1967 as part of the Power Institute of Fine Arts and teaching began in 1968. For the decade following, it was still feasible to regard its central discipline as the history of painting, sculpture and architecture of Europe (with some reference to Australia). Since then, the Department has responded not only to radical transformations in the nature of art history itself, but to the explosion of 'visual studies' into the areas of film, television and the computer, into photography, design, costume, style and cultural studies. The Department has not only been responsive to this new development, but has actively helped to shape current thinking about the nature of art and the visual. The Department has also responded to its geographical and cultural location by introducing the study of Aboriginal and Asian Art.
Why Study at The University of Sydney?
The Department of Art History and Film Studies at the University of Sydney is the only full service department of fine arts in any tertiary institution in New South Wales. The Department offers a full-year introductory course in first year (Junior Level), which includes the possibility of taking a practical option (Art Workshop) in video, photography, drawing, painting, etching, graphic design, screen printing, sculpture, printmaking, set design and ceramics. In second and third years (Senior Level), students choose from options in the areas of speciality of the Department. Students who gain a credit or above in 48 senior credit points in Art History and Film Studies, may enter the Honours year. There are also postgraduate level degrees available.
Careers For Fine Arts Graduates
There is a wide variety of careers available to Art History and Film Studies graduates. These include: Teacher, Art Historian, Art Gallery or Museum Curator, Arts Administrator, Filmmaker, Film Critic, Designer, Academic, Writer, Publisher...
The study and teaching of visual arts is constantly affected by the new technologies. This Department offers both traditional and new competencies that will allow students to familiarise themselves with the advancement of the digital era in order to meet the increased demand of these new skills in the workforce.