Hereford College of Arts and BBC enter collaboration which will provide students with experience and knowledge of the creative and media sectors.
Hereford College of Arts (HCA) and BBC Hereford & Worcester have entered a collaborative agreement whereby the BBC will move its Hereford office to HCA’s College Road Campus, home to their Degree Students (including postgraduate / MAs).
The collaboration will benefit all HCA students by offering the BBC’s experience and knowledge of the creative and media sectors through creative briefs, involvement in specific projects and access to BBC staff as ‘visiting speakers.’ Students will also have the possibility of showcasing their work on BBC platforms including social media.
To launch the collaboration, HCA students specialising in graphic design are currently working on the visual design of a logo to support a new radio series. HCA has also agreed to host a new series of BBC Introducing recordings on its College Road campus. Since its launch in 2007, BBC Music Introducing has been dedicated to discovering and supporting new music and artists. BBC Music Introducing provides up-and-coming artists with broadcast opportunities on radio television and online, as well as the chance to perform at major festivals and showcases. Recording sessions for new artists will be held at HCA’s campus monthly with support from HCA students, and the plan is to open these sessions up to a wider community audience when possible to do so safely.
Abigail Appleton, Principal at Hereford College of Arts said, “The BBC is one of the foremost creative industries in the world let alone the UK and I am thrilled at the opportunities this collaboration will bring students and our local community. I have to admit a personal interest, in that before taking up my post at HCA, I worked in different roles in the BBC for more than 20 years from radio producer to Creative Director, BBC Learning. I know that students will have to meet the BBC’s strict editorial guidelines and quality thresholds to have any work accepted onto BBC platforms. Those aspiring to do so will gain a professional experience of the highest kind. I am particularly excited by the new collaboration around BBC Music Introducing. BBC Hereford and Worcester’s Andrew Marston has played a pivotal role in the development of this extraordinary pipeline for new musical talent. I look forward hugely to working with him and to welcoming musicians selected by BBC Music Introducing to HCA.”
The collaboration will benefit BBC Hereford & Worcester by enabling it to retain a physical office in Hereford, raising its profile amongst students and giving the BBC access to HCA’s diverse student community for joint projects and campaigns that connect with the BBC’s regional audience.
Jeremy Pollock, Editor of BBC Hereford & Worcester said “this collaboration enables us to retain a centre in Hereford and develop an exciting new base among the energetic and creative community at the College. Our team is looking forward very much to joining HCA’s students and staff at the College Road campus and building a relationship that will have benefits beyond the College and the BBC.”
