A specialist east art and design college on Teesside has launched a programme of over 30 professional courses – aimed at people of all ages and abilities – giving them the opportunity to learn a new skill or develop an artistic flair.
Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) is now offering a variety of craft-based courses designed for people looking to develop their artistic skills or considering a career in the creative industry.
Based at the college’s Green Lane campus in Middlesbrough, the courses available include creative glass jewellery, digital photography, ceramics and comic making. Ranging from five to 10 weeks, the courses start from as little as £45, with workshops to suit every taste.
The craft industry is worth £746m to the economy but with fewer people taking up craft-related courses nationally, CCAD is offering courses with a creative focus to inspire people to take up a new skill or develop an existing talent, giving an opportunity to turn a hobby into a new business, such as life drawing and painting, sewing and textiles, Chinese brush painting and print making.
Visiting lecturers to CCAD include commercial photographer and digital artist Robert Smith, freelance glass artist Rachel Laycock, creative glass explorer and community artist Judith Gill, who trained at Sunderland Glass Centre before setting up her own business, and sewing and textiles workshop leader Suzanne Elders, who spent 10 years in the fashion industry and has worked with the Arcadia Group.
For those inspired by Swarovski or Bulgari and who wish to discover their inner jewellery designer, the programme includes a five week course on making your own jewellery.
With a background in textile design following a foundation course at CCAD and degree at Winchester School of Art, artist Sara Lusvardi worked for a number of years for a silk printing company in Italy before moving to a design team for a menswear company in California. After studying the art of jewellery making, she now runs her own business from a studio in North Yorkshire, creating her own range ‘Sassolino Designs’ using beads and gemstones from Italy.
Sara is leading the jewellery making workshop, where participants will be inspired to develop their artistic flair to design and create their own unique pieces of jewellery using various techniques and materials such as beads, ribbon and cord. With upcycling and the rising popularity of ‘green’ festivals such as Festival of Thrift, courses that use old, unwanted materials could even lead to a fledgling business or new career.