VCE Art 2017-2021 Summary of changes
to the study design
General changes
The review of VCE Art focused on:
 Providing clarity of wording for overall concepts and structure across the study design.
 Updating the Key Knowledge and Skills for the art making process and artistic practice across
the study.
 The timeframe for the study of contemporary art in Unit 3 has been changed, from pre-and-post
1970 to pre-and-post 1990.
 The ‘Contemporary Framework’ has been moved from Unit 3 to Unit 2 to ensure coverage of all
frameworks prior to Units 3 and 4, with consequent adjustment to the key knowledge and skills
in Unit 2.
 Providing clarity for Unit 4, Outcome 1 ‘Discussing Art’.
 Minor adjustments to a number of outcomes across the study.
 Unit titles have been provided for all Units.
Cross-study specifications
 Cross-study specifications have been added to demonstrate a consistency of Art language
and definitions across both Art and Studio Arts. The following have been included in the Crossstudy specifications:
 The Analytical Frameworks have been altered to provide greater clarity and structure. They
have been placed under the Cross-study specifications heading to clearly indicate that
they extend across all units of the study. The language of the Formal Framework has been
altered to clarify Art Elements and Art Principles. There have been significant changes to the
Contemporary Framework to allow for more succinct analysis and interpretation of artworks.
 The Art Process has been added to Cross-study specifications to assist teachers to guide
students through the art making process and to give strength to the links between analysing
and interpreting art and art making.
 Visual Language is an important structural aspect of the study. A definition of Visual
Language has been provided to assist students to understand this aspect of Art.
© VCAA August 2016
Review of VCE Art
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Specific changes
Unit 1 – Artworks, experience and meaning
This unit overview has been updated to include references to the Art Process and Visual
Language.
Unit 1 Area of Study 1 has been updated to include a substantiation of student point of view in the
key skills. This provides students with a foundation in discussing interpretations of artworks in other
units.
Unit 1 Area of Study 2 has been updated to include the Art Process and Visual language in the
overview, Key Knowledge and Skills.
Unit 1: Artworks, experience and meaning
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Artworks and meaning
Area of Study 2: Art making and meaning
Unit 2 – Artworks and contemporary culture
Unit 2 Area of Study 1 has been revised to focus on the Cultural Framework and the Contemporary
Framework. This provides students the opportunity to investigate and explore influences on making
and presenting art. Students must study the artworks of four artists and use the Cultural and
Contemporary frameworks in their analysis and interpretation.
Outcome 1 now requires students to discuss and compare artworks from different cultures and
times using the Cultural and Contemporary Framework throughout the key knowledge and skills.
The key knowledge and skills also refer to use of the Formal and Personal framework as
appropriate.
Unit 2 Area of Study 2 has been updated with references to the Art process, Visual Language and
the Cultural and Contemporary frameworks. Students can also base their investigation for art
making on the artworks and artists they have studied in Area of Study 1. The area of study title has
been updated to ‘Artworks and contemporary culture’ to reflect the content.
Unit 2: Artworks and Contemporary Culture
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Contemporary artworks and culture
Area of Study 2: Art making and contemporary culture
© VCAA August 2016
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Review of VCE Art
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Unit 3 – Artworks, ideas and values
Updates to this Unit enable students to focus on more contemporary themes and artistic practices
in their analysis and application of the Analytical Frameworks.
Unit 3 Area of Study 1 has been updated to include the year 1990 as a point of comparison for
comparing artworks. Outcome 1 now requires students to analyse and interpret artworks produced
before 1990 and those produced since 1990 and compare their meanings and messages.
Unit 3: Artworks, ideas and values
I.
Area of Study 1: Interpreting art
II.
Area of Study 2: Investigation and interpretation through art making
Unit 4 – Artworks, ideas and viewpoints
The unit introduction has been updated to provide clarity around the terms ‘art issue’ and ‘art
ideas’. Greater definition about art issues and art ideas is included, enabling more in-depth
examination, discussion and debate about the wider role of ‘art in society’. The term ‘commentary’
has been expanded to include ‘viewpoints’ to allow for greater scope of sources for students to
draw upon.
In Unit 4 Area of Study 1 students are now required to examine an art idea and its related issues to
inform their viewpoint. Outcome 1 has been updated so students discuss a selected art idea and
its related issues and present their informed opinion with the support of attributed commentaries
and selected artists and artwork/s as context.
Amendments to Unit 4 Area of Study 2 Key Knowledge and Skills provide greater focus on the
refinement of artworks and the evaluation of the art process.
Unit 4: Artworks, ideas and viewpoints
i.
ii.
Area of Study 1: Discussing art
Area of Study 2: Realisation and resolution
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Review of VCE Art
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Assessment
Outcome statements in all areas of study across Units 1 to 4 have been altered to reflect the focus
of the unit.
Units 1 and 2 Outcomes
Unit 1
Outcome
Outcome 1
Analyse and interpret a variety of artworks
using the Structural Framework and the
Personal Framework.
Outcome 2
Use the art process to create visual responses
that demonstrate student personal interests
and ideas.
Assessment tasks
Suitable tasks may be any one or a combination of the following
tasks:
 an extended written response
 short answer responses supported by visual references
 an annotated visual report
 a presentation using digital technologies
 an oral presentation
The Assessment for Outcome 2 is:
 A range of visual responses to a selection of set tasks and
documented evidence of the art process.
Unit 2
Outcome
Outcome 1
Discuss and compare artworks from different
cultures and times using the Cultural
Framework and the Contemporary
Framework.
Outcome 2
Use the art process to produce at least one
finished artwork that explores social and/or
personal ideas or issues.
© VCAA August 2016
Assessment tasks
Suitable tasks may be any one or a combination of the following
tasks:
 an extended written response
 short answer responses supported by visual references
 an annotated visual report
 a presentation using digital technologies
 an oral presentation
The Assessment for Outcome 2 is:
 A range of visual responses including one finished artwork
 Documentation of the art process using visual language and the
Analytical Frameworks.
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SUMMARY OF CHANGES
Unit 3
Outcome
Outcome 1
Use the Analytical Frameworks to analyse and
interpret artworks produced before 1990 and
since 1990, and compare the meanings and
messages of these artworks
Marks Allocated
30
Assessment tasks
Any one or a combination of the following tasks:
 a written report
 an extended response
 short responses
 structured questions
 an annotated visual report
 a response using digital technologies
 an oral presentation with documented
evidence.
______________________________________________________________________________
School-assessed Coursework for Unit 3 contributes 10 per cent.
Unit 4
Outcome
Marks Allocated
Outcome 1
Examine and analyse an art idea and its
related issues to inform their viewpoint.
30
Assessment tasks
Assessment tasks may include a combination
of the following:
 a written report
 an extended response
 short responses
 structured questions
 an annotated visual report
 an oral presentation with visual evidence
 a presentation using digital technologies
______________________________________________________________________________
School assessed Coursework for Unit 4 contributes 10 per cent.
© VCAA August 2016
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Review of VCE Art
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
School-assessed Task
Outcomes
Unit 3
Outcome 2
Use the art process to produce at least one
artwork, and use the Analytical Frameworks to
document and evaluate the progressive
development and refinement of their artistic
practice.
Unit 4
Outcome 2
Apply the art process to progressively
communicate ideas, directions and personal
concepts in a body of work that includes at
least one finished artwork and use selected
aspects of the Analytical Frameworks to
underpin reflections on their art making.
Assessment tasks
A body of work that presents explorations within selected art forms
and that clearly demonstrates the development of the student’s
thinking and working practices. The progressive realisation and
resolution of the body of work reflects personal concepts, ideas,
directions, explorations, aesthetic qualities and technical skills, and
includes at least two finished artworks that resolve the student’s
intentions
School-assessed Task for Units 3 and 4 contributes 50 per cent.
© VCAA August 2016
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