Art career prospects good, says Department head

The arts and visual culture industry is an area of growth both in Queensland and nationally which is good news for students, according to head of the University's Art History Department, Dr Margaret Maynard.

'Our record of placing students in employment positions within art institutions both in Queensland and nationally is exceptionally good,' said Dr Maynard.

'Art History provides a solid grounding in areas potentially useful to employers in this industry.

'Many Art History students go on to positions in both regional and state art galleries or work more generally in arts-related activities. Art History can provide entry into an expanding employment situation.'

Dr Maynard said previous students of Art History had undertaken careers in teaching - both at universities after postgraduate study or in state schools - or had worked in museums as curators, education officers, registrars or conservators, or as art critics.

Other fields included library work and art administration. Art History also had relevance to practical occupations such as graphic design, printing, bookbinding, film-making and television.

'Art History addresses itself not only to the history of painting and sculpture, but offers courses on a diverse range of topics such as dress history, art museum studies, popular culture, critical theory, aesthetics and cinema,' said Dr Maynard.

'This interest in various aspects of visual culture, and not just the traditional fine arts is reflected in the variety of approaches to the study of art history available.

'Students are encouraged to think about and assess the different ways in which visual artefacts are described and analysed.'

Dr Maynard said Art History also had a particular commitment to the wider community. Staff conducted regular radio broadcasts and produced reviews in the popular and art press, and worked closely with members of the Institute of Modern Art, Flying Arts Inc., The Queensland Art Gallery, the Ipswich Art Gallery and other regional and interstate galleries.

The department had ongoing input into the public programmes initiated by the University Art Museum.

For further information about studies in art history at undergraduate, honours, MA and PhD levels, telephone (07) 3365 2960.