Course: Public Commissions – From Concept to Tangible Form

What happens to your work when you change materials, alter the scale, or suddenly have to navigate a supplier’s terms? How do you maintain your artistic vision when technology, budget, context, or the production itself differs from what you envisioned?

In this course, you will practice taking your work from idea to production, based on your own practice. Through lectures, assignments, and practical workshop sessions, you will explore what happens when your work changes scale, material, or production method – and what decisions you need to make along the way. Through clear assignments and inspiring lectures and study visits in the Västra Götaland region, you will learn how to make well-founded decisions in the intersection of idea and manufacturing.

The course includes peer learning and needs-adapted modules, as well as a study trip to producers in the Västra Götaland region.

You will gain tools and examples to:

• understand how materials behave at a larger scale and in different contexts
• translate your vision into producible specifications, sketches, and prototypes
• communicate more clearly with producers, technicians, and suppliers
• weigh artistic vision against sustainability, cost, time, and technical prerequisites – without losing the core of your work

Course Goal

The goal is for you to feel confident in your ability to work at a different scale and to gain inspiration and knowledge on how to utilize new materials.
You will gain an increased understanding of how your practice is influenced, and limited, by technology, context, scale, and material. As well as an understanding of how to collaborate with producers without compromising your artistic integrity.

Course Structure

The content is based on concrete examples and industry-relevant processes that demonstrate the collaboration opportunities between creators and manufacturers. Between sessions, you will work on an assignment that will be followed up during the course with course leader Anna Gudmundsdottir from the SPOK platform and Form & Design Center.
The course combines theoretical perspectives with concrete examples and provides space to develop and reflect on your own practice in relation to other course participants. Peer learning and needs-adapted modules are part of the course structure.

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand how materials behave at a larger scale and in more complex contexts
• Analyze how your ideas change when translated into new techniques and expressions
• Discuss material choices, sustainability, production, and technical prerequisites
• Communicate more clearly with producers and other professional competencies
• Better understand manufacturers’ limitations/opportunities
• Make more precise assessments in your own creative process – from idea to prototype

Who can apply?

This course is for professionals working in art, design, craft, or related visual fields, who are active in the Västra Götaland region. You need to have an ongoing practice and a desire to develop your knowledge of materials, process, and production.

Important Information!

• The course is primarily for those registered as residents in Västra Götaland. Other applicants will be admitted subject to availability and will pay a course fee of SEK 3,900.
• You will receive login details for the Learnster learning platform, where Kulturakademin’s course materials and instructions are collected. Some preparation is included.
• The course includes a mandatory physical component on-site at one or more producers in the Västra Götaland region.
• An assignment is included and will be followed up during the final course session.
• Some lectures will be held in English
• In case of late cancellation, you will be charged an absence fee of SEK 500

Questions about the course?

You are welcome to contact the course manager, Sixten Sanne, at sixten@kulturakademin.com

The course is produced by Kulturakademin in collaboration with Konsthantverkscentrum Väst, Konstnärscentrum Väst, Göteborgs Bildverkstad, Centrum för Fotografi, Svensk Form Väst, with support from the Västra Götaland region.

Registration

Register on Kulturakademin’s website here