Studying online
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
For decades, museums and art galleries around the world have been challenged by First Nations people to reconsider their presentation of Indigenous materials, ideas, concepts and narratives. Since their emergence, these institutions have framed indigenous culture in terms of a white, (post-) colonial narrative. The challenge these institutions face is to build meaningful and respectful relationships with the communities whose cultural materials they have historically benefited from exhibiting and to involve communities in the reshaping of their own narratives.
Through (online) guest lectures by leading (inter) national specialists in the field, local gallery visits and face-to-face curator talks, this unit will address some of the challenges and recent trends in curating First Nations art today in Australia and elsewhere. It will ask questions of whether Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island community expectations have been met regarding unequal representation and embedding cultural protocols in museum policy. It will consider the role of the curator in relation to First Nations artists and communities, reflect on Indigenous methodologies in curatorial practice and discuss how to affirm a deeper First Peoples presence in museums and galleries.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode Not available in 2025 UWA (Perth) Face to face - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 option in the History of Art; Art History and Curatorial Studies major sequences
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of past and current developments in exhibiting and curating First Nations art globally; (2) critically reflect on the difference between Western and indigenous knowledge systems and methodologies in museums and galleries; (3) address issues of display and museology in interpreting indigenous art and material culture in museums and galleries; (4) demonstrate oral communication and interpersonal skills; (5) apply principles of argument in art historical and curatorial discourses; and (6) engage critically with pertinent texts to make theoretical and curatorial arguments.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) oral assessment; (2) short written assessment; and (3) research essay. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Arvi Wattel
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of
- Incompatibility
- HART2001 Curating First Nations Art
Approved quota: 15—first come, first serve basis. Places can be transferred between HART2001 and HART3001 up to a total of 30 places across the two units - Contact hours
- Seminars/site visits/lectures: up to 4hrs per week for 10 weeks
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.