The implementation of the project had four key objectives. The first was to enhance the digital professional competencies of students in response to the digitization that is also penetrating the field of art. Students were to increase their skills in the practical application of technologies used in the industry to reflect the needs of practice or, by extension, clients and employers. Another objective was to reflect on traditional forms and technologies used in visual arts and incorporate them into contemporary creation. The goal was also to bring examples of good professional practice into vocational education by combining these two areas, that is, by utilizing traditional techniques and innovatively employing digital technologies. Given the specificity of artistic work, where the ability to present and defend one's work before a client or employer is crucial, another aim of this project was to develop the language competencies of students in professional communication, teamwork in solving assigned topics, and the ability to independently present and defend their artistic concept. Thus, we wanted our students to be better prepared for entering the working environment, not only in the Czech but also in an international contex.
The Secondary Art School, Ostrava, a contributory organization, is a specialized secondary school educating around 280 students. It caters to students with artistic talent who study one of the five artistically focused graduation subjects within the core field of 82 Arts and Applied Arts (Applied Painting, Applied Photography and Media, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, and Artistic Processing of Ceramics and Porcelain). The project focused on the professional competencies of both students and educators, reflecting on two contrasting trends in the field of art—the need to preserve traditional art practices as part of cultural heritage and their projection into contemporary art, as well as the rapid development of digitization in the realm of art. The aim was to provide space not only for students and the development of their professional, key, and language competencies but also for teachers and their ability to adapt education to the needs of modern society. The goal was to improve students' preparedness for the job market, not only in the mentioned professional aspects but also in their ability to adapt to working conditions in a European context and be prepared for the international dimension of the contemporary job market.