Course Overview
This one year course is ideal if you are interested in pursuing a career in art and design at a professional level. The course is predominantly practical enabling you to explore fresh and inventive ideas to develop an individual voice and style through experimenting in a range of art and design disciplines. It is taught through a series of artist-led workshops, lectures and seminars.
There is a studio fee of £100 but this course is not subject to tuition fees.
Programme structure
Exploratory Stage
This is diagnostic in nature and enables students to identify their potential and personal preference for specialist areas of study. Students are encouraged to experiment with a variety of materials and methods and are introduced to the six main areas of study : Fine Art, Visual Communication, Fashion/Textiles, 3D Studies, Photography/Video and Contextual Studies.
Pathway Stage
Students produce a portfolio of work and carry out research into their chosen specialist area. Study options may include: Animation, Ceramics, Fashion, Graphics, Illustration, Jewellry, Painting, Photography, Print-making, Sculpture, Glass, Surface Pattern, Textiles, Theatre Design and Video.
Confirmatory Stage
Students complete a self directed final major project, which is presented for assessment and certification in the form of a public exhibition held at the end f the course. All three stages of the programme are supported by visits to galleries and places of interest.
Updated November 2019
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Entry Requirements
Entry onto the Foundation course requires one subject at A Level in addition to five passes at GCSE at C or above, or other qualifications considered to be equivalent. Mature students are welcome to apply. Subject to interview and portfolio of work.
Course Delivery
The Foundation course is predominantly practical and delivered through a series of artist led workshops, lectures and seminars. Students are supported by regular tutorials and group critiques.
Progression Opportunities
Staying with Gower College Swansea, you could progress on to the Foundation Degree in Fashion and Textile Design
Successful completion of the Foundation course is a vital requirement for progression to higher education and prepares students for application to a wide range of degree courses which combine practical and theoretical studies - i.e. advertising, animation, game design, graphics, fashion, film, fine art, photography, product design, sculpture, textiles, jewellery, theatre design, glass and costume.
In previous years 100% of students have gained university places including Theatre Design at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Photography at Newport, Sculpture at the University of the Arts London, Camberwell, Design at Central St. Martins, Fashion Design at Nottingham Trent and Fine Art at Leeds.
Additional Information
The course requires students to regularly visit exhibitions both locally and further afield. An overnight trip to London during the first term provides a valuable opportunity to visit large scale exhibitions as well as a London university. There is also the opportunity for an extended visit to a European city.
The Foundation team encourage all students to undertake work placements and in previous years students have been supported in obtaining work placements such as fashion styling on S4C, set design on Dr Who, illustration work for fashion label Jayne Pierson and shadowing a photographer for Swansea Life magazine.