Level: Undergraduate
Study Mode: Full-time
Duration: 3 years
Application: to UCAS
Application Deadline: 15 Jan 2012
UCAS Course Code: W720
Institution Code: H18
Validated By: University of Wales

This unique course provides opportunities in a highly creative environment for students to explore and develop the range of design, production and entrepreneurial skills necessary to become a practising artist blacksmith. It marries superb technical instruction in state-of-the-art facilities with dedicated studio workspaces within an art college environment.

Artist Blacksmithing is enjoying a renaissance not only in the traditional areas of domestic and architectural forge work but also within the gallery context and public arts arena thus demanding graduates with an innovative and clear design-led creative practice.

Case Study

This degree is validated and awarded by the University of Wales. For further details regarding the University and its validation services, please log on to www.wales.ac.uk/validation or email validation@wales.ac.uk

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Artist Blacksmithing attracts ambitious and diverse students from both the UK and abroad. It combines traditional blacksmithing skills with contemporary design in a way which is certainly unique in the UK and builds upon Hereford’s long history of design craft courses. Design skills are developed in a friendly studio environment where you will have your own working space, and where you can always rely on approachable and expert technical help across a wide variety of materials and processes, and easy access to tutorial support.

Probably the best course in Europe to develop design and making skills in forged metal and fabrication at all scales, building on the superb crafts tradition at Hereford.

Year One
During the first year of the course, students will be engaged in a wide variety of studio and workshop activities to introduce and develop a range of two and three dimensional processes, including the creative practice associated with traditional and contemporary approaches to Artist Blacksmithing. The course which is primarily project based encourages creative thinking and experimentation, particular emphasis is placed upon the development of appropriate drawing, design, materials manipulation and specialist Blacksmithing skills. Students are introduced to the importance of a reflective, analytical and evaluative approach through personal visual research and learning journals.

An ability to communicate different design aesthetics and understanding of contemporary and professional practice is continuously cultivated within studio and workshop based projects.

Throughout the whole of year one, studio activity is underpinned by a Cultural Studies and Discourse lecture and seminar programme in which issues of a broader cultural and contextual nature are explored.

Year Two
Building upon the understandings and experiences of the first year, in year two students will be encouraged to develop a creative risk taking approach underpinned by thorough research and an independent analytical process. The creation of a clear and defined pertinent resource base is paramount to the design process, through an evaluative and reflective approach students make informed choices that determine the direction of their individual creative practice. Students also have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to ‘real’ design problems through the requirement to creatively respond to a range of different contexts. Forge work practice continues to be supported by a series of advanced specialist workshops. At the end of level 5 students critically review and analyse their progress to date and produce a statement of intent, setting out the parameters of proposed future research and concept development in the third and final year of the course.

Studio activity is further supported by a Cultural Studies and Discourse lecture and seminar programme that links and embraces the connections between theory and practice, including the introduction of professional practice as an integral component of the programme.

Year Three
This final year will provide the intellectual and creative space for students fully realise their creative ambition evidenced through the production of a resolved body of work. Emphasis will be placed upon the students’ ability to demonstrate an appropriate level of professionalism, autonomous learning and the sophisticated resolution of ideas. In this final year students will be required refine and resolve their creative practice, clarity of intention is paramount and a rigorous approach to all aspects of practice is essential. A series of ‘master’ classes focusing upon the development and refinement of forge work making skills will be delivered to underpin studio practice. Students will be expected to work in an increasingly self-directed manner to a professional level and will have the opportunity to produce a body of work for public exhibition Within Professional Practice, students will be expected to undertake subject specific seminars related to the development of their business plan and market analysis depending on their projected career interests. Students will be required to undertake an in depth and critical analysis of an agreed area of study in the form of a Dissertation.

Many student fulfil their original intention to set up there own professional practice studios and workshops as an artist, designer, sculptor or blacksmith. Graduates have produced major pieces of public artwork and architectural installations, had stands at the Chelsea Flower Show and Malvern Spring Fair and had work published in books and journals.The knowledge for skills acquired during the course can be applied to a wide range of career opportunities within the creative industries and progression to post graduate studies for higher qualifications and teaching are possible on successful completion of the course.

Minimum age 18
Successful portfolio interview
200 UCAS Tariff Points
Mature Students with related experience
English as a second language: IELTS score 6.0 or equivalent on enrolment

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