Digital Media Program

The Australian National University provides a unique environment in Australia for the artistic use of computers and a focus on interdisciplinary education for artists interested in exploring the potential of new technologies and new media. Digital Media studies at the School of Art is dedicated to creative applications of new technology and artistic practice and offers studies in new digital sound and image technologies at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. While studies focus on computer music, digital video, computer animation and interactive digital media, emerging aspects of digital media such as networked systems, distributive technologies, and installation are also explored. Activities include, research, exhibitions, festivals, recording, publishing and performance of new media and time-based arts. Digital Media is situated in a new and exciting contemporary styled building. Here, students have access to extensive audio-visual recording and production studios as well as access to courses and activities conducted by the School of Art, the School of Music, the University Faculties and the Humanities Research Centre. An International Student Exchange program exists for students in their second year.

NEW PROGRAM OF STUDY
The Australian National University has just developed a new program of study in the area of digital arts, it is the Digital Media Major in the ANU School of Art’s Bachelor of Visual Arts degree. This program will replace the Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts) which the University has decided to discontinue. The same lecturers and facilities will be used for the new Digital Media Major as for the discontinued Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts), however we believe that the course content is now structured in a better way and offers a more productive educational experience. We believe that this new Digital Media Major, alongside the Bachelor of Art (New Media Arts), offers a much better range of educational options for students interested in studying in the areas of new media and digital media. For further information please contact Dr Martyn Jolly at Martyn.Jolly@anu.edu.au or Dr Catherine Summerhayes at Catherine.Summerhayes@anu.edu.au.

PROGRAMS OFFERED:
• Bachelor of Visual Arts (Digital Media Major) - three years full time (or equivalent part time). An honours year is also available
• Bachelor of Arts (New Media Arts) - three years full time (or equivalent part time). An honours year is also available
• Master of Visual Effects
• Master of New Media Arts by coursework and individual practice
• Master of Philosophy by Research - two years fulltime (or equivalent part time)
• PhD

HISTORY OF DIGITAL MEDIA AT THE ANU

The study and research of Digital Media at the ANU has a long and distinguished background. In 1989 the Australian Centre for Art and Technology (ACAT) was set up as an initiative of the Schools of Music and Art and aimed to support multi-disciplinary artistic practice and groundbreaking research in art and technology. ACAT’s tradition of using technology as an integral part of the art making process was continued by the Centre for New Media Arts (CNMA) which succeeded it in 2004, when the Centre, along with the Schools of Art and Music, were merged into the Faculty of Arts. In addition to graduate research and course work programs the ANU began to teach undergraduate programs in new media with the Bachelor of Arts (Digital Arts) in 2001, and the cross-disciplinary Bachelor of Art (New Media Arts) in 2005. Following a review in late 2007, and in recognition of the radical changes and developments in new media technologies over the preceding decades, the CNMA was disestablished and its teaching programs were incorporated into the School of Art, while the BA(DA) was converted into a digital media major in the Bachelor of Visual Arts.

Information about the disestablishment of the Centre

Statement on the disestablishment of the CNMA