syllabus — ART 394 — PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE IN THE STUDIO

Proposal for Capstone Exhibition (392) / Studio Project Capstone (393)

or

Professional Project Proposal

brief description:

Writing a professional proposal is a critical skill across art careers to get others interested in buying in to your ideas or investing time, money, or resources on your plans.

If you have not taken your Art Program Capstone Course yet or plan to take another Art Program Capstone Course, then you should write your proposal specifically for that course (Capstone courses include: ART392: Senior Studio Seminar and exhibition; ART393: Senior Project Studio). Create a professional project proposal that clearly outlines a realistic self-directed studio art project that has a strong concept, budget, and well thought out logistics and project timeline.

If you have already completed ART392 or ART393 and are not planning to take the other course in the future, you may work with me to find an appropriate substitute venue or opportunity to use as a basis for your proposal. For example, some possibilities could include writing a proposal for applying to a residency, applying for a grant, curating an exhibition in a gallery, and others related to your interests. Any substitute should be appropriately rigorous to match the original assignment, meaningful to your future goals, and in an arts field (arts is broadly defined here).

project requirements:

1) Written Proposal

Information
List your name and the context for this proposal (ART392, ART393, a proposal for a specific purpose arranged with me, etc.)

Abstract / Short Description (50 words max)
A succinct overview of your project concept, its form, and the desired outcome.

Long Description (250 words max)
Clearly articulate your concept and motivation. State your choice of media and why it is relevant to the concept. Describe how your project takes an original and imaginative approach to content and form.

Influence / Context (150 words max)
What are the main influences upon your work as an artist? How does your past work inform your current project? Please use concrete examples, which may include other artists’ work, art movements, cultural heritage, research/work from outside your field, etc. Speak on what your work as an artist is about and how it fits into a larger context, be that aesthetic, social, philosophical, etc.

Audience (100 words max)
Who are the specific audiences/communities that you hope to engage through this project? Please think beyond the broad art community where possible. How are you hoping to reach them?

Impact / Outcome (100 words max)
What kind of impact—artistic, intellectual, communal, civic, social, etc.—do you hope your project will have? What strategies will you employ to achieve the desired impact?

Growth (100 words)
How might your proposed project act as a catalyst for your artistic and professional growth? In what ways is it a pivotal moment in your practice?

2) Timeline

Your proposed project needs to have a discernible beginning, middle, and end. Prepare a well thought out timeline for your project. This should include things like material research and studies, sketching phase, testing /mock ups, iterations, research meetings, technology self-learning, detailed various phases of production, points to get feedback from peers, details of transportation, logistics, installation, de-installation etc. Consider all the variable logistics for making this project and any constraints you might have (size of work determined by what can fit in your car, what you have room to store after the exhibition, if you need to work with other people during production etc.) Organize all of this information into a outline that explains the sequence of steps required for its completion. Use a 9-week timeline.

3) Budget
Produce a detailed itemized budget for your project’s expenses. This should include research and travel, material costs, production/fabrication expenses, assistance (studio help, models, actors, sound/video capture etc.), administration, transportation, storage, studio rent, documentation, promotion, etc.
Example: Budget-Tips-and-Examples.pdf

project evaluation:

The written proposal sections will be the main focus of the evaluation for this assignment. The Timeline and Budget should be feasible and illustrate that your proposal is functional and well planned.

project submission:

1) In-Class Feedback

Print 2 copies for the “class feedback” day and share them with classmates to get feedback.

2) Final

Turn your written proposal in as a PDF on D2L on the project due date.

resources:

Course textbook (Art Inc.) or alternative textbook (Art/Work (Revised & Updated))

DePaul Coleman Entrepreneurship Center

Spudnik Residency link
Roman Susan Gallery Proposal link
College Art Association’s Art Journal Proposal link