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Curtin University
Humanities

Facilities and Equipment

Library (building 105)

The T. L Robertson Library houses Curtin University's main book and journal collections. The library also offers access to a large range of electronic material and a range of guides and training in using library resources. These resources can also be accessed online. Link: http://library.curtin.edu.au/ Computing Laboratories There are 7 Humanities computer labs available for students, as well as the large Abacus computer lab (130 computers) in building 303.

Acoustics and Lighting Laboratory (201.213)

The Acoustics Laboratory provides measuring and testing facilities for assessing acoustics and materials/construction performance in building materials and construction.

Audio-visual Laboratory (201.115)

The AV laboratory provides audio-visual services to staff for lectures and loans of photographic and video equipment for students. The laboratory has facilities enabling experimentation and offers technical support.

Computing Laboratories (building 201)

There are 3 student computing laboratories containing PCs and graphic work stations with CAD and 3D modeling, multimedia and other software relating to design, building science and building measurement.

The computer labs in building 201 have the following software available:

  • Adobe Reader
  • Audacity
  • Easy CD Creator
  • EndNote
  • Web Browsers: Firefox, Internet Explorer
  • Adobe Suite - Flash, Freehand, Director, Dreamweaver, FireWorks
  • Norton Antivirus
  • Microsoft Office XP
  • Paintshop Pro
  • PowerDVD
  • Quicktime
  • RealPlayer
  • SPSS
  • Windows Media Player
  • Winzip
  • Photoshop
  • ArchiCad
  • Artlantis
  • AutoCad
  • CosmosWorks
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • SolidWorks
  • CSSP/Wingate
  • Map Info
  • NatHERS
  • Project 2002
  • Adobe InDesign

Photographic Equipment Store (201.466)

Opening times 9am-9.30am and 3pm-3.30pm for bookings, pick up and drop off.

Resource Centre (201.325)

The Resource Centre is a support facility provided for students and staff of the Schools of Built Environment, and Design and Art. It houses literature, records and other material related to architecture and the building industry.

The resource centre supports the Faculty's teaching and learning objectives through the development of information literacy skills for all students. We are firmly committed to creating an environment where the vibrant blend of cultural styles of the Faculty can be displayed, enjoyed and used to spark innovative changes to existing norms and practice.

The Resource Centre offers the following facilities to students:

  • 2 Colour Photocopy/Printers
  • 1 Black and White Photocopy/Printer
  • 2 A3 Scanners
  • AO Scanner and Plotter ( prints A1 and A2)
  • Light Table
  • A4 Light Boxes
  • Handheld Scanner
  • Paper Trimmer
  • Guillotine
  • Workstations
  • Powered Work Desks
  • Wood and Metal Workshops (202:149 and 202:155)

These spacious and well-equipped workshops provide a wide range of technical possibilities in the production of student projects with extensive woodworking and metal fabrication machinery and tools. Technical support staff are available for advice and help.

Wood and Metal Workshop (202:149 and 202:155)

The Wood and Metal Workshop have the following equipment available:

  • Computer controlled laser cutter/ engraver for a wide variety of materials, with a bed size of approximately 600 x 400mm
  • 3D scanner
  • Three Dimensional Prototyping Machine
  • Desktop 3-axis CNC Milling Machine
  • Flat bed 3-axis Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Machine
  • Table and Band Saws
  • Lathes
  • Routers
  • Sanders
  • Wood Thicknesser
  • General hand tools for wood and metal working
  • Sheet metal bender
  • Spray booth

Audio-Visual Store

The AV store provides audio-visual services to staff for lectures and loans of photographic and video equipment for students. The store has facilities enabling experimentation.

Computing Laboratories (building 201)

There are 3 student computing laboratories containing PCs and graphic work stations with CAD and 3D modeling, multimedia and other software relating to design, building science and building measurement.

The computer labs in building 201 have the following software available:

  • Adobe Reader
  • Audacity
  • Easy CD Creator
  • EndNote
  • Web Browsers: Firefox, Internet Explorer
  • Macromedia Suite - Flash, Freehand, Director, Dreamweaver, FireWorks
  • Norton Antivirus
  • Microsoft Office XP
  • Paintshop Pro
  • PowerDVD
  • Quicktime
  • RealPlayer
  • SPSS
  • Windows Media Player
  • Winzip
  • Photoshop
  • ArchiCad
  • Artlantis
  • AutoCad
  • CosmosWorks
  • Revit
  • SketchUp
  • SolidWorks
  • CSSP/Wingate
  • Map Info
  • NatHERS
  • Project 2002
  • Adobe InDesign

Fibre/Textiles Workshop (202.117)

The fibre/textiles workshop provides courses and facilities for students wishing to explore the broad range of textile studies. The course offers both undergraduate and postgraduate study and aims to prepare students for careers as artists and/or designers. Graduates from this area have developed successful careers in a wide range of disciplines including: textile design; fashion design; self-employed business; theatre and costume design; academia; art; arts administration and curatorial work; interior design; public art; and many other areas.

All staff are practising professionals who have national and international reputations and actively maintain contact with the larger art and design community and industries. They specialise in a diverse range of disciplines from design and production to conceptual and image based work.

Undergraduate students enrolled in this area attend weekly classes and progress is monitored through individual consultation, group discussion and feedback, reviews, and gallery visits.

The fibre/textiles area is well equipped and supported with technical assistance. Students are offered workshops in: surface design and print; dye technologies; surface manipulation and stitch; constructed textiles; and also body, fashion and costume.

The workshops provide a stimulating environment that encourages a rigorous approach to research and the opportunity for the exchange of ideas.

Staff contact: Annette Seeman, workshop coordinator - 9266 2317.

Jewellery and 3D Design

The jewellery and 3D design area offers a work friendly environment where students can seek expertise in conceptual and contemporary / traditional skills development. The staff within the studio all have contemporary practices and provide an excellent resource base for all students.

Students are encouraged to work in an investigative manner, exploring the tradition and building a contemporary practice based in knowledge of theory and practice of the past and present.

The jewellery and 3D studio is equipped with all essential tools for a multitude of processes involved in traditional and contemporary jewellery and object making. As a safety conscious studio best work practices are encouraged at all times.

Online Resource Links

  • Macromedia Flash Player
  • Macromedia Shockwave Player
  • Multimedia Design Web site

Painting Area

The painting area is best thought of as the area where staff and students work, rather than as an area where any specific media must be used. Each of the professional artists teaching and working here also has experience and proficiencies in additional fields.

The area actively promotes the growth of individual initiative and the development of inventive strategies through appropriate technical skills across a broad range of related disciplines. Students in the workshops frequently combine their material technologies with those taught elsewhere in the Department of Art and the University at large. Interpretation and choice of media are open to the inventive strategies of the student. The widest possible range of options for experiment and discovery is encouraged.

Weekly workshops studios are held to cover the various technical and strategic skills most central to painting and printmaking. For example: materials and methods in Painting, mark making exercises, observational skills, and colour theory.

Print Media

Print media occupies several studio bases. Each of these is well ventilated, lit and maintained with basic equipment and studio furniture. The larger studios are located adjacent to the central print/photo facilities and the Department’s main teaching space respectively. The latter also contains an area designed for the preparation of painting supports, spray painting and the environmentally safe disposal of waste materials. Processes which require additional ventilation or may involve potentially toxic materials are separated from others. Accessible close by are the Department's wood and metal workshops and the skilled technicians associated with them.

Print media Studios at Curtin are equipped to deal with traditional printmaking processes including; intaglio (etching, engraving, dry point and collograph). We have the largest etching press in an institution in the southern hemisphere, relief (wood and lino block), planographic (lithography and Mono print) and silk-screen printing. All print processes can be explored using both manual and photographic techniques.

There are also black & white photographic darkrooms and a computer laboratory equipped with the latest technology including a large format 1200cm x 1800cm colour printer.

Resource Centre (201.325)

The Resource Centre is a support facility provided for students and staff of the Schools of Built Environment, and Design and Art. It houses literature, records and other material related to architecture and the building industry.

The resource centre supports the Faculty's teaching and learning objectives through the development of information literacy skills for all students. We are firmly committed to creating an environment where the vibrant blend of cultural styles of the Faculty can be displayed, enjoyed and used to spark innovative changes to existing norms and practice.

Sculpture Facilities

Curtin’s sculpture programme offers students experiences with both the technical and conceptual understandings of contemporary sculptural practices in order to become practicing artists. The sculpture programme encourages self-motivated and independent ways of working and a broad critical approach to art making.

The first year of the programme offers conceptual and material discoveries through the use of set materials as well as working with themes. Throughout second and third year the opportunity to work with the materials or facilities offered in the sculpture workshop are driven by response to themes, ideas and proposals.

The facilities in the sculpture workshop offer the ability to work with wood, metal, plastic, plaster and casting in various formats and sizes and most other material necessary for the execution of an idea. Whilst the staff acknowledge the history of skills and techniques of this discipline, the programmes encourage contemporary approaches, diversity and invention.

The sculpture facilities provide support for the making of all aspects of Sculpture and include:

  • A fully equipped workshop for working with wood, metal, plastics, etc
  • Clay, Plaster and wax areas for mould making and casting
  • A foundry area with a modern Induction Furnace for bronze and Aluminium casting
  • Installation space for review and temporary installation
  • Outdoor undercover area with blacksmith forge

Studio of Electronic Art

www.studioelectronicart.net

Wood and Metal Workshops (202:149 and 202:155)

These spacious and well-equipped workshops provide a wide range of technical possibilities in the production of student projects with extensive woodworking and metal fabrication machinery and tools. Technical support staff are available for advice and help.

Teaching Resource Collection (in the Robertson Library)

The Teaching Resource Collection holds resources specific to the teaching profession as well as teaching materials.

Curtin FM Radio Station

Curtin has a community radio station called Curtin FM located on-campus. Curtin FM broadcasts to the Perth metropolitan area, and provides an opportunity for our Journalism students to experience broadcasting radio news bulletins in an actual functioning industry environment.

Film Studio and Equipment

Screen Arts students have access to professional quality equipment for producing, editing and viewing their work.

Curtin has a large on-campus film studio (the largest in Western Australia aside from the commercial TV studios) in which students will undertake hands-on learning, and have access to for projects.

Our field cameras are matched to our studio cameras, and the studio cameras are mounted on fully professional gas operated and steerable pedestals such as you will find in any of the top studios in the world.

In late 2008 the Film and TV area completed a million dollar upgrade to high definition (HD) broadcast quality equipment, including new HD cameras and associated apparatus. All the video cameras at Curtin capture their images digitally, and all post-production (editing and sound mixing) is done on industry standard computer-based digital systems - Premiere Pro for first years, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro for second years, and Avid for third years. Our students use the latest Pyramix digital sound mixing system.

All the video cameras at Curtin, capture their images digitally, and all post-production, that is editing and sound mixing, are done on industry standard computer-based digital systems - Premiere Pro for first years, Premiere Pro and Final Cut Pro for second years, and Avid for third years. Our students use the latest Pyramix digital sound mixing system.

We have always maintained the importance of having professional standard equipment - which is why we offer our students the opportunity in their final year to shoot either digital video or 16mm film.

InkWire (online magazine)

This website is produced by the Journalism students, and gives them a forum in which they can showcase the work they produce during their studies. It won a Faculty award in 2010.

Link: http://journalism.curtin.edu.au/

Journalism Software

Journalism uses industry standard equipment and software in its teaching programs and replaces equipment on a regular basis. That includes Final Cut Pro and NewsBoss digital editing systems and Adobe's InDesign publishing software. Curtin has introduced the latest digital still and video cameras into our photojournalism and television units.

Hayman Theatre

Performance studies currently stages major productions in off-campus venues. The upstairs theatre on-campus serves as a venue for Performance Studies lunchtime and Sunday sessions of student productions. Public performances are also held at a variety of theatres around Perth.

Link: http://haymantheatre.curtin.edu.au/

Sitelines (online writing journal)

All staff and students at Curtin University are invited to make submissions to Sitelines, Curtin's online journal for creative writing, non-fiction and new media. Submissions are also open to ex-staff and Curtin alumni.

Link: http://sitelines.humanities.curtin.edu.au/

The Western Independent Newspaper

The Western Independent is Curtin’s on-campus newspaper that is sourced, researched, written, edited, and published entirely by our Journalism students. It is produced monthly during semester and distributed on campus. The paper allows students to experience all aspects of newspaper publishing in a real setting, and what is involved in being a print media journalist It also gives students the opportunity to graduate with a portfolio of published work.