Art & Design
Gregynog Residential Art School 2012
I Haven't Done Any Art Before
We have a series of level 0 art modules which are skills based courses to help you ease into studying art and design. These give you a grounding in techniques, and allow you to dip your toe in the water.
What Qualifications Do I Need?
Curiosity, good humour and self motivation. We shall ask you to come and meet one of our tutors who can advise you on a suitable course for your strengths and needs. You can also take courses on a stand alone basis. Try it out to see if you like the style of teaching.
What Will Be Asked Of Me? 
Commitment to return assignments on time and keep us informed of your changed circumstances such as e mail addresses
How Will The Courses Be Taught?
All our tutors are experienced in teaching adults and are aware of the anxieties that students have when returning to learn. We know that it is difficult to put yourself in a position which can make you feel vulnerable. Perhaps a few student’s comments may arrest your fears of embarking on a course with us.
“Courses provided within the Lifelong Learning programmes give excellent opportunities to continue self development beyond retirement”
“thoroughly enjoyed myself, thank you!”
"lively and supportive tuition, the tutors comments were focussed and I was stretched to my limit"
“inspiring tutor who fired up the imagination of all students!”
“enjoyed the course and wanted more, excellent tutor with lots of patience”
“its so rare to come across such a gifted and enthusiastic tutor”
“Brilliant course, brilliant tutor, loved it”
“It has been an eye opener, I see things differently now, very good tuition”
“I just showed and sold some pictures at the local ‘art on the railings happening’ which raises money for the church and in my conservatory as part of the local Open Gardens weekend. There are quite a few art courses for adults in the area (North Essex) but they are not taken as seriously as the ones in Aberystwyth. While I thought the credit system at Aberystwyth was a bit tedious sometimes, I think the various requirements did focus the mind and produce higher quality responses from the students. Thanks from a grateful student.”
How Will I Be Assessed?
Assessment is tailored to adult learners who are returning to learn. Individual assignments are set and negotiated between you and your tutor, so that your study is tailored to your own interests. This allows you to work at your own pace.
We do not set examinations. Art practice courses are continually assessed and integrated within the teaching times and at your final tutorial you are able to talk about your work with the tutor, discuss the elements that have concerned you and the corners you have turned along your learning path. At this assessment you will be given verbal feedback. Think of the assessment as someone giving you year’s of advice.
Our Art History students are set an essay which can be written at home and is submitted by a deadline negotiated between you and the tutor. Those of you who are unsure and anxious of formal writing are given guidelines and encouragement along the way and you can submit drafts of the essay before final submission. There is also a ‘Study Skills’ course that is available that supports your writing skills. We also have a level O Art History course called Looking at Art; this is recommended if you have not done any art history before.
Both art history and art practice courses require a visual diary which is a notebook of 'aha' moments, and further research into artists that relate to your own work.
Certificate in Higher Education: Art and Design
“I never had the opportunity to study art at school”
“I want to work and study”
“I don't feel I can commit myself to full-time study”
“I have an inkling that I could be good at art”
These are comments that we frequently hear from our new students. They have decided to enrich their lives by studying Art and Design with the School of Education and Lifelong Learning. Our tutors have a wealth of experience of teaching adult learners, many of whom have been adult learners themselves and understand the need to support and build confidence, they can tailor your path of learning, helping you to develop your strengths and interests.
What is Special About Our Higher Education Certificate In Art and Design?
- We teach in remote villages and towns across Mid Wales
- We teach in lovely gardens and in galleries where you can access art at your fingertips
- We deliver vocational art residential schools
- You can study while you are working
- Many art courses are at weekends and evenings
- Many art courses are not weekly so that it allows you to complete your home study without pressure
- Some courses have day classes instead of two hour classes which is more economical on petrol
- Most day courses have school friendly hours
- We specialize in teaching adults and tailor our delivery, assessment and schemes of works specifically for adults
- We run many courses that are suitable for your professional development such as Web design, Photoshop and Marketing yourself as an art practitioner-
- We run intensive courses and summer residential schools in art practice disciplines
- You have 5 years to gather 120 credits; that is roughly one course per term
- You do not have to enrol on the Art & Design Certificate to study with us
- You can take our courses as stand alone courses
- You can take Level 0 courses to see if you like the way we teach
- We are very proud of our hard working staff and now have five staff who have won awards for their teaching
- Many staff are professionals in their field
- We care for all students who are starting out and have not done any art before
- We have a series of Level 0 courses in drawing, painting and sculpture. What about Junk Art for those of you who like to recycle?
- Once you feel confident you can move up to a Level One course with the same tutor
How Do I Pass The Certificate In Higher Education
Certificate of Higher Education Art and Design Brochure
You have 5 years in which to cover the required amount of study which is 120 credits. The certificate is awarded with a pass or a fail and you will need to take 70 Key modules to give you an all round art education. These Key modules can act as a launch to find your preferred painting and drawing medium. The optional modules allow you to study an area in greater depth.
Put Simply:
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Completion of 120 credits
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20 credits can be at Level “0”
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70 credits must be taken from the Key modules
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The following modules are compulsory:
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Tutorial module
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Art in Wales Contemporary Art and
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The Study of Art and Art History
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The achievement of a weighted average of 40% overall
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Attendance at 60% of the course
“It's wonderful these visual diaries, they really make you work and explore the subject”A. Batham
Format of the Scheme
The key modules give you a sample of art materials and media that you might like to study in more depth. Further modules using specified medium can be found in the Optional Lists and cover three dimensional, design, two dimensional painting and drawing modules, computer related design, printmaking and art history. So you can design your own learning to your strengths.
We rotate classes so that they appear in the different localities over a period of years. Classes are held during the day, evenings and week ends, vacation and summer residential schools. Some classes are held in our main base areas, but we also teach in outreach areas such a village halls and galleries. Tutors bring our provision to your doorstep but some modules require more technical back up or a larger space and you will need to travel in to Aberystwyth for the odd course, but we try and arrange car shares to help you out.
Stand-Alone Courses For Teachers
We have a number of courses attached to the Certificate that teachers in schools and colleges have found useful for their professional development. These are listed in the box for the Continuing Professional Development. These courses are often run as weekend courses, residential holiday courses or on a few Saturdays in the year. If you would like to find out more please contact us: learning@aber.ac.uk
What does the Certificate allow me to progress on to?
Completion of the Certificate of Higher Education: Art and Design, plus an interview and portfolio allow entry to the 2nd year of the degree programme at the School of Art, Aberystwyth. They have a number of degrees and each degree scheme requires a range of core modules that are required in order to transfer; these will be listed in your student hand book.
How can the Certificate help me get a job?
Students will demonstrate creative thinking, spatial awareness, design concepts, visual awareness and colour theory relating to marketing and promotion. Furthermore, the skills of display and design, problem solving, negotiation and working from and to a brief will be developed. Analytical skills, critical thinking and an understanding of the relationship between art practice and art history will be shown. Critical self-reflection, the development of personal enquiry, time management and working to deadlines are all skills that would increase employability and are encouraged throughout the Art and Design modules.
Sir Ken Robinson states that, “Creativity now is as important in education as literacy, and we should treat it with the same status.” Students from Art and Design courses have a greater ability to see through and act upon problems in a creative way.
Additionally these specific modules can enhance employability and help establish cottage and independent businesses.
Up Cycled Clothing give students the opportunity to sell their work through a clothing cooperative called Co-Create.
Willow Sculpture and Living Willow sculpture courses are taken by small business garden designers
Marketing Yourself as an Art Practitioner and Interior Design is taken by those who are setting up cottage craft industries.
The full suite of IT courses will enable a student to set up their own Web Design business.
Any Questions?
- Want to know more?
- Want to know more about specific courses?
- Find out what we are teaching where?
News:
As a result of your evaluation forms you have asked for:
- Art History in the south
- More evening classes
- Resolution of the clash of day between Narberth and Fishguard
All if these issues have been addressed for 2011-12.
We give a warm welcome to our new staff Mair Jones, Sebastian Grey and Carys Hedd.
Up cycled Clothing. Digital Textile Design Using Photoshop. Image Editing for the web. Sourced from the Landscape. Two news Textile modules: Material Spaces and Tactile Environments which will come on line next year.