Offered By	Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, Faculty of Law, Faculty of Science, Faculty of Asian Studies, ANU Medical School, Canberra School of Art, Faculty of Economics and Commerce, and Faculty of Arts
Academic Contact	Valerie Kirk

This workshop major may only be taken in a Bachelor of Visual Arts, Bachelor of Design Arts or a Diploma of Art.

The Textiles Workshop provides programs and facilities for students wishing to explore the broad range of textile studies, studio practice and research. Programs aim to prepare students for careers as textile designers, small business producers, practicing artists, teachers, curators, community artists and for employment in public art. With active academic staff, excellent technical facilities and located close to Australia's national collecting institutions, the Workshop provides an excellent environment for studio practice, study and research.

The Textiles Workshop promotes a creative and innovative approach to textiles based on a thorough technical understanding of the medium and knowledge of the historical and contemporary context. Concept and ideas development parallels technical training, allowing students to use the textile medium to express theory, personal concerns, concepts and ideas to develop an individual approach to their art practice. Students develop an historical perspective and conceptual, creative and critical abilities.

Applications are welcome from school-leavers and mature-age students Australia wide and internationally. All prospective students are interviewed and must present a folio of recent work. The folio can consist of drawings, sketchbooks, textiles and other forms of artwork, reflecting the applicant's interests and abilities.

The Textiles Workshop offers a three-year Degree, fourth Honours year and a two year Diploma program. Students receive full instruction in the diverse range of traditional and contemporary textiles from weave, tapestry and surface design to felt-making, dyeing, rug-tufting, basketry and embroidery. The workshop is well resourced with equipment to give students the knowledge of processes and develop a range of skills.

Later, students are encouraged to pursue their own goals and establish an artistic identity through self-directed projects developed in consultation with Workshop staff. Progress is monitored through individual tutorials, group discussions and reviews where work is presented to staff and fellow students for critical appraisal. Regular visits to galleries and museums are organised each year.  The well-equipped Workshop allocates each student an individual work area in the open plan studio, providing a stimulating environment that encourages an exchange of ideas. Technical assistance is available and facilities include tapestry looms for large- and small-scale work, floor and table looms for weaving, two computer-linked dobby looms for computer-aided weaving, a fully equipped dyehouse, modern hank and yarn winding machinery, a fabric printing facility, sewing machines and rug-tufting equipment. In addition the Workshop has areas for display and general drawing and design. Facilities for computer-aided design are available in the Workshop with specialist textile software and graphic packages for the exploration and development of colour, pattern and imagery in relation to both traditional and contemporary textiles. Students can take cross-disciplinary practices and are encouraged to access the resources of the School's Workshops and studios including the Edition and Artist Book Studio and the Computer Art Studio.

The information published on the Study at ANU 2009 website applies to the 2009 academic year only. All information provided on this website replaces the information contained in the Study at ANU 2008 website.