WHY STUDY VISUAL ARTS? The IB Visual Arts course encourages students to challenge their own creative and cultural expectations. They engage in, experiment with and critically reflect on a wide range of practices. Students develop analytical skills in problem-solving and divergent thinking, while working towards technical proficiency and confidence as art-makers. The course is ideal for students who want to go on to art-related courses in higher education, as well as for those who are seeking lifelong enrichment through visual arts. CONTENT OF COURSE: Assessed across three areas, the IB Visual Arts course has a common core and approach for both Higher and Standard Level. For the Process Portfolio (40%), students are required to show breadth of experimentation. Students submit evidence of their experimentation, exploration, manipulation and refinement with a wide variety of visual arts activities during the first year of the course. This is supported by the use of a Visual Arts Journal. The Comparative Study (20%) is a critical and contextual investigation of the students’ choice. Through independent critical and contextual investigations, students explore and analyse artworks, objects and artefacts by at least two artists from differing cultural contexts. Higher Level students will also produce practical responses. The Exhibition (40%) is a culmination of the course in the second year. Students will select a series of linked works to exhibit. The selected pieces should show evidence of technical accomplishment and an understanding of the use of materials, ideas and practices appropriate to visual communication.