Fine Art

Study at a specialist college with the assurance of a university qualification. Develop your passions and reach your potential in a small, welcoming environment within a community of like-minded people.

Why choose West Dean? An international reputation for excellence in conservation and arts education 94% of students studying at the College* felt the programme had enhanced their skills and abilities (*2019 student survey) A rich arts environment and a focus on craft skills with vocational application Be inspired by the unique historic character and beautiful South Downs setting Located close to Chichester and the South Coast, with easy access to London

The Course

The Graduate Diploma in Fine Art is an interdisciplinary programme designed to provide a route into postgraduate study. As a concentrated form of an undergraduate degree, it gives graduates the opportunity to transfer existing skills. As you progress, you can work across disciplines or choose to specialise in areas such as Painting and Drawing, Sculpture, or Tapestry and Textile Art.

You can expect

Low student : tutor ratio Dedicated individual studio space with access from 8.30am-9pm, seven days a week Access to advanced facilities, workshops and expertise Support in developing both interdisciplinary and specialist studio work Support in developing critical thinking and contextual knowledge Opportunities to display work Support for developing transferable skills such as self-management, communication, collaboration, IT and research skills

Learning environment

A stimulating and supportive learning environment A specialised programme of lectures, seminars and workshops Visiting lecturers and artists Expert support from a dedicated team of workshop technicians Gallery visits and other external events Contact with professional artists-in-residence based in the studios An immersive environment with rich connections to art history, particularly Surrealism, through the legacy of College founder Edward James

Exceptional facilities

All full-time students get a large individual workspace. In addition to specialist spaces dedicated to Painting and Drawing, Sculpture and Tapestry and Textile-based work, the studios also include:

Seminar room Materials and tool store Small photographic darkroom Exhibition and research spaces IT suite with editing software On-site Art and Conservation Library with thousands of specialist books and journals A self-contained print room offers specialist facilities for etching, aquatint, monoprinting, woodblock and linocut Sculpture Courtyard, which is also suitable for work in stone carving Access to West Dean Tapestry Studio, one of the world's leading producers of hand-woven tapestry Edward James Collection - An outstanding resource providing access to a range of significant, even iconic, works of art as a source of inspiration and research Excellent short course programme, allowing access to a wide range of visiting tutors and specialist techniques.

Teaching

You are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars, practical workshops, individual and group tutorials, critique sessions, oral and written presentations, external visits and self-directed research. On the Graduate Diploma you typically have around 13-14 contact hours per week.

Independent learning

When not attending lectures, seminars, workshops or other timetabled sessions you will be expected to continue learning independently through self-directed study. Typically, this will involve:

Working in the studio Developing supporting material and research portfolios Undertaking research in the library Reading journal articles and books Working on specific unit assignments Preparing presentations and self-assessments.

Overall workload

Graduate Diploma: 40% of your time is spent in scheduled teaching and learning activity Scheduled teaching and learning: 480 hours Independent learning: 720 hours