Art, drama and music lower stress. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of taking arts in years 11 and 12

Art, drama and music lower stress. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of taking arts in years 11 and 12

• By Staff Writer

If you’re thinking of taking a performing or visual arts subject in years 11 and 12, you are probably weighing up a few considerations. These may include your passion and interest in the subject, how doing one or two arts subjects might affect your entry into university, and what you could do with the skills you learn.

Nearly 30% of all year 12 students across Australia (53,311 years 12 students in total) chose to study visual or performing arts in year 12 in 2019. But twice as many girls took an arts subject (40%) as boys (18%).

The art subject selection you have will depend on what state you live in. But these are the types of subjects you can broadly choose from in visual and performing arts.

Visual arts

Visual art is a theory-based subject. You will learn about different artworks and the role of artists in society. You will engage in discussions and writing tasks about what artworks mean. This includes ideas from historical and contemporary arts and culture.

In-studio arts, you will learn about artists’ practices and the art industry while also developing your own art.

Media arts involve researching and learning about narratives across different media forms. You will demonstrate your understanding of production processes by designing a media product (such as a film or photographic exhibition) and presenting it.

Product design and technology involve learning about, and experimenting with, materials and processes. The materials will vary from school to school, but you may be able to choose from wood or timber, metal, fabrics, polymers, glass, or ceramics. You will learn how to design and put these designs into production.