BA Graphics student secures excellent work placement

As a result of seeing her work at the recent New Blood Show, level 6 student Juliet Eccles has been offered a paid work experience placement at Landor who are one of the leading Brand specialist in London.

Asked by her tutor Neil Mabbs how the opportunity came about Juliet replied ..."I participated in a brand workshop at New Blood where I had a great time and learnt all about branding and pitching. The highlight was having to pitch myself in a lift to a camera for 30 seconds. Can you believe it, a company is offering me a paid placement, I am rather speechless."

Professional Masterclasses Success

On Tuesday 10 July The School of Creative Arts hosted a professional masterclass which provided the opportunity to meet practicing artists, view their work and watch demonstrations of specialist techniques and processes within Book Binding, Fused Glass, Drawing with Stitch and Ceramics. 

Students attending were then able to explore the practical process for themselves with 1:1 guidance and support from the artists.  We received excellent feedback about the workshop facilities and the high level of professional instruction and were delighted with the final outcomes produced across all four workshops.

Drawing Workshop @ OCVC Banbury Campus

Creative arts staff at OCVC's Banbury Campus enjoyed a brilliant session on drawing led by Martin Carrolchick.

See the link below for details of the session and PowerPoint

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=9DEAF481F47830F5!136

New Graduate Opportunity: The Platform Graduate Award, a new regional project that Modern Art Oxford is introducing summer 2012

The project involves four visual arts organisations in the South East (Milton Keynes Gallery, Aspex, MAO and Turner Contemporary) working with Higher Education Institutions in their geographical area to showcase the work of six to eight graduates selected from this summer's BA Fine Art degree shows. A further shortlist will be put forward from each organisation's presentation for the Platform Award. The successful artist will receive a bursary of £2,500, mentoring and access to Directors and curatorial teams, and the possibility of a one-month residency at MAO.  The initiative also has the support of Turning Point South East.

The objective of the project is to develop a closer working relationship between galleries in the South East and their local Higher Education institutions, to enhance opportunities for professional development, training and graduate retention in the region, and to showcase and highlight the work of emerging artists in the region. This year will be a pilot to launch the initiative and with the aim of developing it further.

Sarah Mossop, head of learning & partnerships  and two curators from MAO visited the BA Fine Art degree show and met with staff teaching on the course in order to make their selection.  An initial shortlist of 3 was decided upon and then a final winner – Lucy Garnett.  Sarah was very impressed with Lucy’s work and commented:  'I'm very pleased to announce that we have selected Lucy Garnett from the BA Fine Art course at OCVC, Banbury for the Platform Graduate exhibition at Modern Art Oxford. We were impressed with the clarity in which her ideas were presented through her installation, and especially liked her animated film with its subtle soundtrack.'

Oxfordshire School of Creative Arts External Project 2011/12

Forge 2 is a collaboration of 3 local artists:  Clare Eguchi, Chris Wiggins and Debbie McCullough. Their idea was to create an open studio where each of them could work in the company of like-minded artists.  After a period of renovation the Culworth gallery was opened to other artists, both local and from across the UK creating a venue where people could experience new and different art, design and craft including: paintings, automata, ceramics, glass, textiles, sculpture, wooden toys, jewellery and mixed media. 

Forge 2 enjoy supporting new artists and have agreed to showcase the work of at least 3 students from The Oxfordshire School of Creative Arts within their Christmas Exhibition. This call for entries is open to BA (Hons) Design Craft, Fine Art and Graphic Design & Illustration students plus students studying on the FdA in Creative Art & Design Practice and Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.

Brief:

To produce a gift for men which can be sold at Forge2 Christmas Exhibition

The Winners: 

Anne Hobbs – FdA in Creative Arts & Design Practice

Isobel Knowland – BA Fine Art

Annie Payne – BA Fine Art

New Designers - Graduating students exhibit in London

BA (Hons) Design Crafts students have been exhibiting their work in London, it has given them an excellent opportunity to share their outstanding work with a variety of other graduates, employers and artists from a range of workplaces, universities and colleges throughout the country. 

As their website demonstrates it is an excellent event which gives brilliant exposure to the individuals and the college:

'As the only design event to bring together over 3,500 graduates from across all major disciplines, New Designers will bring you face to face with the next generation of design leaders.

Every summer, New Designers helps thousands of graduates to launch their career at the spectacular Business Design Centre in London, the world’s capital of design.'

http://www.newdesigners.com/

Shine - launch of our new building!

The Creative Arts Centre at our Banbury Campus was officially opened on 20th June 2012.  It coincided with our exhibition of graduating student work.  We had students from Level 1 to Level 6 showing their outstanding work using all the spaces within the new building.

Opening our building was Michael Kenna who also awarded one of our students a prize of £500 and a limited edition print, in what will now be a yearly competition.    

The event was extremely successful and was attended by over 1000 people all basked in the glorious sunshine.

See link below for press story.

http://www.banburycake.co.uk/news/headlines/9789022.Oxford___Cherwell_Valley_College_opens___3_4m_arts_unit/ 

Research in Practice - Performing Arts

Audience Research Commission

Performing Arts undertook a commission from the Mill Arts Centre to research their 16-18 audience across its programming. The Yr2 students conducted a survey with over 100 young people from across Oxfordshire and South Warwickshire and produced a report with the data. They also presented their findings and launched the report to senior managers at the Mill Arts Centre.

See link below for the report:

https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=9DEAF481F47830F5!136

Also in partnership with the Mill, Performing Arts Banbury ran a series of professional actor training workshops in the Mill’s theatre space for local schools. The project will be repeated in 2013 and will be facilited by Yr2 Directing students.