Elements and Performance Criteria

Art finishing may be applied to:
costumes
millinery
costume accessories
props
furniture
sets

Production requirements to be considered in the planning and application of art finishing may include:
budget constraints
time constraints
number of times the item is to be used
how the item is to be used
who the item is to be used by
storage and transport constraints
safety issues
level of ongoing maintenance required
potential for production charges that may impact

Art finishing methods may include:
breaking down
ageing
dyeing
stencilling
screen printing
painting
applique
quilting
beading
modern/antique pleating
applying accessories to finished items
hand/machine embroidery

Materials may include:
fabrics
leather
vinyl
plastics
foam
latex
found objects
paper/cardboard
straw
metal
electronics

Relevant colleagues may include:
designers
technical and production staff
performers

Environmentally responsible use of materials and tools may include consideration of:
noise and odour impacts on others
appropriate disposal of waste
special disposal techniques for certain products
minimising use of environmentally damaging products

Underpinning skills and knowledge

Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:

typical production requirements for art finishing, including the range of items for which art finishing may be required
the effects of art finishing on various materials and fabrics in a performance context
safety issues associated with different art finishing techniques
sources of supply for art finishing materials and products
common art finishing products, their accessibility and cost

Linkages to other units

This unit has linkages to a range of costume, props and set manufacturing units and combined assessment and/or training with those units is recommended, eg:

CUECOS10A Make period costumes
CUECOS11A Make character costumes

Critical aspects of evidence

The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

ability to apply a range of finishing methods to items to meet production requirements
knowledge of the scope of art finishing methods and their application in a performance context
safe use of tools and materials

Method and context of assessment

The assessment context must provide for:

practical demonstration of skills through the application of multiple art finishing methods to a range of production items

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

direct observation of the candidate using various art finishing techniques
evaluation of items on which the candidate has completed art finishing, eg appropriateness of method, quality of finish
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of art finishing techniques and materials
portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups (eg people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling).

Resource requirements

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

items required for relevant art finishing methods as specified in the Range Statement
raw materials/finished items for the application of art finishing

Communicating ideas and information
Determining art finishing requirements from production documentation (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Advising colleagues of art finishing options (1)

Planning and organising activities
Sourcing and organising materials (2)

Working with others and in teams
Consulting with colleagues (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Calculating quantities of materials required (1)

Solving problems
Selecting an appropriate finish for a particularly demanding performance situation (2)

Using technology
Using hand tools (1)