Students hoping to be the next Stella McCartney, Damien Hirst or Antony Gormley can check out the latest courses on offer as a leading regional art and design college opens its doors.
To help potential students discover their inner artist, Cleveland College of Art & Design (CCAD) is hosting an open day at its further education (FE) site in Middlesbrough on Saturday 23 January from 10am-2pm for them, their family and friends to drop in and learn all about the wide variety of courses on offer. Courses include A-levels, foundation diploma, access to Higher Education and BTEC Extended Diplomas in subjects such as fashion and textiles, interactive media, photography and fine art.
The open day event is offering a programme of activities to help prospective students make the best choice when it comes to further education in the arts. Creative staff at the specialist arts college will be available to welcome visitors and talk about why CCAD is by far the leading provider of further education for art and design in the Tees Valley. Guests can take part in tours of the teaching and student facilities – including dedicated studios and workshops – allowing opportunities to see a range of student work and gain a deeper insight into how the top performing college sends the highest percentage of students on to university in the Tees Valley.
Students will also be on hand to give an experienced view of the college, the courses and life at the art institution, as well as the student services and student recruitment teams who can provide information and advice on finance, travel, application processes and other support services.
One of the few remaining specialist art colleges in the country, CCAD offers a unique, creative environment in which to develop as a successful career in art and design, with former students now working with prestigious clients such as the BBC, Madam Tussauds and Louis Vuitton, and on Hollywood blockbusters including The Dark Knight, The Hunger Games and World War Z.
Students can go on to study for a degree within the college, as CCAD offers its unique specialist teaching at its university-level campus in Hartlepool, where a wide range of degree subjects are available. 18-year old Hannah Wood from Darlington completed her BTEC Extended Diploma in Photography at the College last summer. She said: “This course has been excellent, especially the tutors, who have helped me to achieve a triple distinction star. I don’t think I could have done that without their support and I am now studying for a photography degree at the College’s university-level campus in Hartlepool.”
Former students have also gone on to international success in the art and design industry, including Hannah Sutherland from Middlesbrough who has progressed to higher education, studying for a degree in fashion design at the Amsterdam Fashion Institute. In addition, CCAD FE students have since produced textile designs for Armani, Chanel and Paul Smith and exhibited photographic works in London and Beijing.