Opportunity to Learn to See the World from a New Angle: The Impact of International Art Study Tours on Creative Arts Students’ Learning

Abstract

Over the past four years, Creative Arts students in an Australian University have had the opportunity to participate in an International Art Study Tour. During the tour, the undergraduate students study Photography and European History and Culture at a University in Germany, attend major international art biennales and view exhibitions in cities in Europe and/or United States. Following the tour, students undertake a Creative Arts subject with assessment tasks that involve reflection of the study abroad experience. This paper investigates students’ perceptions of the impact of the International Art Study Tour on their learning. Literature regarding participation in study abroad suggests benefits for student learning including educational merit, increased confidence and a greater awareness of global citizenship. Participants in this study reported the benefits highlighted in the literature, and in addition, this study finds that a greater commitment to a career in the arts resulted from participation in the study tour. This finding may be useful for the design of Creative Arts degrees, particularly, in countries that are long distances from the major cities of Europe and North America; where costs and travelling time prohibit many students from viewing a range of art.