Fine Art (Top Up)

The world needs fine art thinkers more than ever before.

The ability to see the world through a unique filter, and then express and communicate this to others is vital in this time of change. It can potentially influence our culture, our mental well-being, politics, and even the economy.

From day one at HCA, you will be an artist, exploring our world and developing your own voice. You will then get to express this through a wide range of media including paint, print, drawing, ceramics, textiles, photography, video, digital, sound, performance, sculpture, and installation. You set your own artistic course and develop a unique body of work by exploring the subjects that excite you most.

Fine Art students at HCA have the creative freedom to explore diverse subjects such as identity, memory, storytelling, place, mark making, or form; or engage with a wide range of social, cultural, or political issues. You’ll also get involved with exciting collaborative events such as exhibitions, residencies, and site-specific responses.

The course has been designed to provide students with the support, technical skills, and confidence to develop their work and meet the challenges of being a practicing artist today. Through group activity, you will develop a strong foundation in communication and collaboration that will help you have impact in the wider arts world.

On the one-year Fine Art top up degree at HCA you will be encouraged to develop a personal approach to contemporary Fine Art practice, free from the constraints of a ‘house style’. We will support you to experiment across a wide-range of media including: paint, print, drawing, ceramics, textiles, photography, video, sound, performance, sculpture, and installation.

HCA students have the creative freedom to explore diverse subjects such as identity, memory, storytelling, place, mark making, or form; you may delve into deeply personal or autobiographical topics, or much broader social, cultural, or political issues. You’ll also get involved with exciting collaborative events such as exhibitions, residencies, and site-specific responses.

We offer small group teaching in a thriving studio environment. Studying in our specialist arts college will make it easy for you to transgress boundaries and produce interdisciplinary work.

Our smaller group sizes allow us to recognise each student as an individual, developing a unique practice. You will be supported in finding your own creative voice through your art practice.

What we provide

Personalised individual tuition from experienced practicing artists and curators as well as expert technical assistance.

Lively studio culture with individual space for every student.

Weekly collaborative student projects and events in the course’s Project Space.

Lectures and workshops with professional visiting artists.

Workshops including 3D, video, photography, textiles, ceramics and print.

Exciting collaborative events, exhibitions, residencies, work placements, and site-specific projects working with our network of external partners.

Transformative Art Camp

Collaboration with Sidney Nolan Trust | Meadow Arts | Maylords Orchards | New Arts West Midlands | Canwood Gallery | Queenswood H-Energy | H-Arts | Hereford Cathedral | National Trust

Entry Requirements Successful completion of a UK based level 5 qualification such as a Foundation Degree (FdA) or HND in a related subject (evidence of prior learning will need to be provided). Portfolio submission or audition (as applicable) and successful interview.