About the Courses
Why us?
This course has 100% Overall Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2022)
Our graduates embark on a diverse range of careers including professional artists, community artists, academics and teachers
Studying at National Glass Centre puts you at the heart of an international network of creative professionals
National Glass Centre is also home to the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, which has a 50-year history of showing cutting edge contemporary art
Learn both traditional and modern making techniques and have access to world-class production facilities
Meet internationally renowned, high-profile artists and designers currently working in the glass, ceramics and making fields
Be part of a supportive creative community and be encouraged to become nationally, even internationally, networked during you
Why us?
This course has 100% Overall Satisfaction (National Student Survey 2022)
Our graduates embark on a diverse range of careers including professional artists, community artists, academics and teachers
Studying at National Glass Centre puts you at the heart of an international network of creative professionals
National Glass Centre is also home to the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, which has a 50-year history of showing cutting edge contemporary art
Learn both traditional and modern making techniques and have access to world-class production facilities
Meet internationally renowned, high-profile artists and designers currently working in the glass, ceramics and making fields
Be part of a supportive creative community and be encouraged to become nationally, even internationally, networked during your time on the course
Develop your confidence, problem-solving skills, communications skills and professionalism so that you are well prepared to enter the professional world
Modules
Year 1 (national level 4):
Focus on skill acquisition to introduce a broad base of techniques:
Ceramics: throwing, glazes, hand building, slip casting, decals,mono-printing, press moulding
Glass: glassblowing, kiln casting, stained glass, glass painting, sandcasting, sandblasting, glass cutting, gluing and construction
Finishing techniques: grinding and polishing, wood finishing, metal patination
Digital crafts; for example rhinoceros, tinkercad, blender, fusion 360, 3d printing, water jet cutting, laser cutting
Wood and metal - basic skills
Artists talks and visits will provide examples of professional careers and practice verbal presentation skills
Aspects of historical and contemporary artist designer maker contexts
Academic research, referencing and writing skills
Core modules:
Studio Techniques for Making (60 credits)
Ideas Into Practice (40 credits)
Key Themes for Art, Design and Making (20 credits)
Year 2 (national level 5):
Focus on development of professional transferable skills, understanding of contexts of practice and broader cultural issues, and of independent study and skills acquisition:
Continuing skill acquisition, including printmaking for glass and ceramics, advanced ceramics techniques, and digital skills
Applying for ‘real world’ opportunities like competitions, exhibitions and work experience
First semester: Focus on work in place, space and context through developing a project in response to a specific place, purpose or audience
Design boards, visualisations and sample making
Second semester: planning, executing and evaluating a self-directed project for exhibition at a professional public gallery - usually at Shipley Art Gallery, Gateshead
Opportunity to study abroad including USA, Australia or Sweden
Core modules:
Making for Place, Space and Audience (40 credits)
Making for Exhibition (40 credits)
Dialogues in Art, Design and Making (20 credits)
Collaborative Creativity (20 credits)
Final year (national level 6):
The final year is geared towards the exhibition of a professional body of work at National Glass Centre:
Experimentation, visualization, testing in order to develop a professional and resolved body of work for exhibition
Refinement of making skills, finishing techniques, presentation methods and consolidation of ideas in a final body of artworks
Research and write a critical dissertation relevant to students’ individual studio work and/or career goals. Also, focus on establishing a professional identity and career plan
Research career options, understand the nature of the sector the student aspires to enter and in turn develop a relevant career plan
Develop online portfolio or drawings and finished work
Core modules:
Experiment Visualise Prototype (40 credits)
Refine Resolve Exhibit (40 credits)
Dissertation: Your Creative Context (20 credits)
Professional Practice: Planning Your Creative Career (20 credits)