Level: Further Education (level3/4)
Study Mode: 2 days study at College/2 days study at home, each week
Duration: 1 year
Minimum Age: 21 years
Entry Requirements: Interview with portfolio of work. This may include work produced for previous qualifications (GCSE, AS, A2, degree, etc.), or work that you have produced in your own time. A selection of observational drawing should also be included.
How to Apply: Direct to College

The Portfolio Course at Hereford College of Arts was established in 2003 and has a growing reputation within the region for attracting a wide range of talented students with the ambition and desire to develop future careers within the field of creative arts practice. This unique course has been developed specifically for mature students who wish to return to education to develop their artistic potential and leads to a Foundation Diploma in Art and Design qualification validated by the University of the Arts London. It mirrors the curriculum content of our highly successful and long established Foundation Diploma in Art and Design course and is delivered over a two day per week programme with a requirement that students undertake additional study from ‘home’ based studios.

The course is therefore intensive but equally flexible in accommodating the often busy lifestyle of mature students whose personal commitments may prevent them from attending College on a daily basis. The course offers the chance to explore a wide range of creative art practices in preparation for future study at Undergraduate level or to support the development of previously established practice. It is delivered by experienced tutors many of whom are practising artists who are sensitive to the needs of mature students reengaging in education. The course provides a supportive study environment in which a particular emphasis is placed upon the development of creative thinking, ideas generation, research and study skills. Previous experience of art and design is desirable, but not essential. We will interview all applicants and would expect to see evidence of personal accomplishment in relation to creative endeavours, preparedness to take risk and to be ambitious and evidence of a realistic understanding of the challenges that might face you as a mature student returning to education.

The course is designed to enable you to learn through discovery and exploration. This is achieved through your engagement with studio-based projects including workshop based activities, studio teaching and study visits. The course is very intensive, creative and dedicated to the development of individual knowledge and understanding derived from continuous personal exploration and experimentation. You are expected to develop strong visual communication skills and critical approaches to your practice. You will explore a range of media, materials and processes towards the realisation of creative ideas. Your studies will help you develop the ability to research, analyse and evaluate information and ideas in order to develop creative solutions and to present these ideas in a considered and comprehensive portfolio as part of unique and personalised body of work.

We look for students who are highly motivated, creative problem solvers and passionate about creating their own work; people who are prepared to challenge expected norms, take risks, be innovative and inventive, explore ideas and have fun doing so.

The course is divided into 3 parts.

Part One
(Unit 1: Research Methods, Unit 2: Ideas Development, Unit 3: Materials and Methods, Unit 4: Evaluation and Reflection.)
In Part One, you will be introduced to the range of disciplines that make up contemporary art, design and media practices. This stage of the course which is diagnostic in approach is designed to help you learn through discovery and exploration about different ways of researching, evaluating and generating ideas using a variety of media and processes. It is underpinned by a series of personal tutorials designed to support the development of an independent work ethic and informed thinking about potential career paths upon completion of the course.

Part Two
(Unit 5: Research, Ideas and Methods, Unit 6: Preparation for Progression)
 Part Two of the course gives you the opportunity to start to integrate your personal creative approach to the generation of ideas within a chosen subject or discipline. If it is your intention to apply for degree study, you will be supported in either your internal application to undergraduate study at Hereford or other institution through UCAS and the development of an interview portfolio.

Part Three
(Unit 7: Project Proposal and Realisation)
At the start of Part Three you will be asked to produce a self- initiated project that will require you to take responsibility for your own learning and reflect your skills, abilities, ambition and chosen area for future study. The realisation of your project should demonstrate evidence of your ability to integrate planning, research, project management, ideas generation, evaluation and reflection as part of your repertoire of creative skills. This last unit increases to Level 4 (degree level) and provides the qualification grade of Pass, Merit or Distinction.

Assessment
Assessment is an integral part of the learning process and throughout the course you will receive continuous feedback about the development of your work via formative and summative methods of assessment. Individual tutorials and peer group discussion are the preferred methods used at Hereford for you to receive comprehensive advice about your work, and to provide a forum for generic topics to be discussed.

The majority of Portfolio students apply for courses at Hereford College of Arts and include for example; application to undergraduate courses such as Artist Blacksmithing, Fine Art, Contemporary Applied Arts, Jewellery Design, Animation, Photography, Illustration, Graphic and Media Design and Textile Design.

As well as degree study you may wish to develop your practice as an artist or designer maker and exhibit your work or you may decide to seek employment in an area related to the visual arts such as arts administration or arts education.