The Art of Collecting: Creativity, Collections and Cultural Connections

Undergraduate | 2026

Course page banner
area/catalogue icon
Area/Catalogue
CREA 1001
Course ID icon
Course ID
201124
Level of study
Level of study
Undergraduate
Unit value icon
Unit value
6
Course level icon
Course level
1
Study abroad and student exchange icon
Inbound study abroad and exchange
Inbound study abroad and exchange
The fee you pay will depend on the number and type of courses you study.
Yes
University-wide elective icon
University-wide elective course
Yes
Single course enrollment
Single course enrolment
Yes
alt
Note:
Course data is interim and subject to change

Course overview

Culture and creativity are built through collecting and connecting ideas, objects, people and experiences across time and space. Throughout human history we have collected – from family heirlooms, to works of art, to scientific specimens. This course explores the complex history of collecting using case studies from South Australia and around the globe. This course will explore how, what and why humans collect. How have the collections of key cultural institutions come into being and what biases were at play in their development? Using “The Art of Collecting” as a broad conceptual lens to think through the way cultural institutions such as museums, galleries, libraries and archives students will examine how meaning is derived from the ways that different objects are brought together, combined, or excluded. The Art of Collecting questions how we can use collections today to tell stories of the past, to create meaning, and to inspire new narratives and cultural works. 

  • A History of Collecting
  • Collecting in Australia
  • The Future of Collecting

Course learning outcomes

  • Critically evaluate the history, and politics of collecting and the ongoing impact of these legacies for cultural institutions and communities.
  • Show an understanding of how objects move into, through and out of cultural institutions.
  • Think critically about the ways in which the GLAM sector uses collections to tell stories about the past, present and future.
  • Show an understanding of the legacy of collecting including the contemporary ethical, practical and environmental considerations.

Assessment

Oral Defence, Critical Analysis, Essay

Degree list
The following degrees include this course