Contemporary Art Practice

• This Foundation degree has been designed with the support of people working in the industry to ensure it is relevant.

• It uses experiences in the workplace to generate a portfolio to demonstrate successful application of creative skills.

• You will have the opportunity to progress to a relevant and related Honours degree.

• Delivered at your local college.

The Creative Arts include a wide range of skills and specialism, the key to this qualification being diversity. Each college has specialist tutors who will support you in exploring new and exciting areas, simultaneously extending your portfolios.

You will work across disciplines, benefitting from a multitude of experiences, exploring new ideas whilst relating them to employment opportunities.

With this being a recognised growth area across the country, you will learn how to find your place in the market as well as developing your skills.

In order to develop high level creative skills, visual studies are fundamental, and this is supported by the exploration of useful practical techniques in a range of arts areas, such as textiles, mixed media and 3D. These are exciting advantages of the award, allowing you to develop your aptitude in a variety of disciplines.

To enable deeper understanding you will delve into the background of the history of design, such as the circumstances surrounding artistic development

The exact content of the course will vary from college to college and some may offer particular specialisms such as; Illustration, 3D Design and Textiles, but you should expect the following areas to be included:

Investigation, Reflection and Expression; Visual Studies; Creative and Social Context and Professional and Contextual Studies are the key topics in which you will be involved in, offering a vast deal of experience in a broad variety of skills.

The work-based topics such as Introduction, Exploration and Personal Development in Specialist Pathways offers beneficial hands-on experience for those who are less experienced and for others, enables them to extend their portfolios.

Assessments will be conducted in a variety of ways, whether verbal, written or practical, allowing further development of personal skills. You will receive both formal and informal feedback to help you progress and improve your work.

Study time will again vary from college to college, but all will have studio and lecture time, including core days when you must attend to ensure briefing in crucial aspects of your subject is completed. Responsibility is left to you to ensure substantial amounts of work are done, with help every step of the way from tutors. You are advised to contact the college of your choice for further details.

As a holder of the Foundation Degree in Contemporary Art Practice you will be entitled to add FdA after your name.

Most people studying this award will expect to work independently or as part of a small business - perhaps a micro-business. Others may already be selling their work, or looking for a chance to start up their own company. Other areas that might benefit from this qualification are work in a gallery or showroom or as a technician in a school or college.

Successful completion of this foundation degree will give you the opportunity to progress onto one of the BA (Hons) Entrepreneurship for the Creative and Cultural Industries awards at Staffordshire University, which include: Entrepreneurship in Fine Art, Surface Pattern, Ceramics, Illustration and 3D Design. You may also choose to progress to another suitable BA (Hons) award at Staffordshire University: with the close working relationship between the University and your college, you will be guided towards the best choice for your portfolio and experience.

For more information about Contemporary Art Practice please contact: