The future generation of artists and designers will be able to view the impressive new teaching space at Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) as budding creatives are invited to visit for the first time since opening last month.
The northern arts school is hosting an open day for potential new students on Saturday 4th November and staff will be on hand to welcome visitors to the university-level campus in Hartlepool.
The £8million new building at No 1 Church Street now provides 45,000 sq. ft. of teaching and administration space for degree courses such as Production Design for Stage and Screen, Textiles and Surface Design, Contemporary Textile Products, Photographic Practice (with Moving Image) and Film, TV and Theatre Production
The latest campus facilities include flexible studio space, two seven-metre double-height studios for photography and TV or film work, a refectory area and galley, ensuring students can access the highest level of creative industry education in the north east and across the UK for many years to come.
The existing campus on Church Square will be open to potential students interested in degree programmes including Body Contour Fashion, Costume Interpretation with Design, Digital Design and Advertising, Commercial Photography and Illustration for Commercial Application.
The open day event, which runs from 3pm until 7pm, is offering a programme of activities to help prospective students make the best choice when it comes to higher education in the arts. This includes a welcome talk by Principal Martin Raby, and a series of programme talks by academic staff on degree courses ranging from textiles and photography, to fashion and production design for stage and screen.
CCAD was recently awarded Gold by the Teaching Excellence Framework in recognition of its outstanding quality of teaching at its university-level campus in Hartlepool, making it the top art school in the UK.
The specialist arts college was also ranked the best in the north east for student satisfaction in the 2017 National Student Survey (NSS) when compared with institutions offering three-year BA (Hons) degrees.
Recent graduates have gone on to further study at prestigious institutions such as the Royal College of Art and begin their careers with industry leaders in the arts field, including prestigious costumiers, Angels, for film and TV across the world, including tv show Downton Abbey and Oscar-winning films Gladiator and The Great Gatsby.
21-year-old Meg Wallace from Knebworth in Hertfordshire, lived in Hartlepool during her studies for a BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design. She is now working as a costumier for Angels’ Fancy Dress store on Shaftsbury Avenue in London and in the future would like to set up her own business as a freelance costume designer.
Meg said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to develop my career and great to be based in London as I only live half an hour away. I have really enjoyed my time at the college immensely; I chose this course as the costume facilities are amazing, and didn’t equal any other university that I went to see.”
Staff and current students will provide information and advice on a wide variety of degree courses, student accommodation and the application process. Visitors will be able to meet with the course programme leaders and view the new department facilities, allowing an opportunity to see a range of student work and gain a deeper insight into the modules covered on the degrees.
In addition, there will be tours of the campus facilities and student accommodation facilities at Crown Halls in Hartlepool, as well as a question and answer sessions by student services on support and finance, and information on employment and enterprise opportunities. Student ambassadors will also be on hand throughout the day to help with queries and also give first-hand experience on what it is like to be a student at CCAD.
Visitors are encouraged to book in advance, and can select their areas of interest to tailor the open day to their specific needs. Parents, guardians and friends are also welcome to attend.
Pat Chapman, Head of Employability and External Relations at CCAD, said: “It is really important for potential students to make the best decision for them when it comes to the right course and college, and so getting expert advice is critical.
“To potential students, our new studios and teaching facilities are an expression of confidence in the future, not only in the college but in the creative sector in the north of England. The future employability of our students is also a key focus of our work, providing dedicated support through our employability service. Our students get access not just to our in-house staff but a wide range of nationally and internationally recognised creative industry figures and businesses, giving them the head start needed to find employment and develop their career in the creative field.”
CCAD is also redeveloping its current Church Square facilities which will see the main building on Church Square develop into a library; the historical buildings Leadbitter and Municipal buildings, which were acquired from HBC in 2010 and 2012, will remain as schools for degree courses such as Body Contour Fashion, Costume Interpretation with Design, Illustration for Commercial Application and Graphic Design.
For more information on opportunities at CCAD contact (01642) 288888 or visit www.ccad.ac.uk.