West Dean College, near Chichester, is offering bursaries for its new programme of Creative Development short courses which launch in April 2012.

The courses are intended to inspire and foster the evelopment of creative professionals such as designers, artists, makers or students and are taught by leading professionals in their field. The courses take place during the Easter holidays 2012 and bursaries are available for undergraduates and recent graduates of creative subjects, practising designers, artists and makers.

Head of Short Courses at West Dean Alison Baxter comments: “We have developed these new courses for more advanced makers and artists keen to develop their work alongside contemporaries. We are keen to offer these bursaries to reinforce West Dean’s overall commitment to fostering the talents of artists and craftspeople, making these courses accessible to all.”

Enamel for large-scale public art (April 1 – 5, £406)
Suitable for all, this is aimed at artists keen to apply for public arts commissions and is an opportunity to explore enamel as a material, and learn of its full potential to bring art into an exterior environment. Tutor Elizabeth Turrell is a ceramicist and a renowned enamel artist. 

Cross material practice – wood, clay, textiles (April 9 – 14, £457)
Will enable advanced professionals to develop new strategies to re-think the material nature of their own craft practice on a course led bythree internationally recognised practising artists working in wood, clay and stitch – Helen Felcey, David Gates and Alice Kettle. Known for pushing the boundaries of their crafts and exploring collaborative practice, they will help students to explore an experimental and cross-disciplinary approach to materials and techniques. Through researching, markmaking, discussion and experimentation, the focus will be on generating a tool kit of new starting points to take forward to future projects.

A creative launch pad (June 14, £103,) Suitable for all
Can't get started with a new creative project or idea? Using creative exercises and simple coaching tools, you will get your idea off the ground in this very practical and fun workshop. Explore the potential of your project, ignite your ideas, bring clarity to your aims and devise a clear and simple plan for how to proceed. Tutor Isobel Smith is a skilled course leader, puppeteer, artist and performer.

Subtraction – Erasure – Conjecture (Summer School) (July 21–27, £633) Intermediate/advanced
The relationship between subtractive and interpretive practice will be explored in this workshop. Taking an existing image or object which challenges and inspires you – either textile or non-textile based – you will work through a process of systematic reduction or deconstruction, to evolving strategies to transforming your work. Emphasis will be placed on investigation and research of personal imagery and the development of related technical innovation. Above all the experience aims to be both fun and perplexing. Tutor: Michael Brennand-Wood visual artist, lecturer, and arts consultant, is a leading practitioner and advocate of contemporary international textile art.

Mark making in enamel (August 19–24, £495) Suitable for all
West Dean environs are first used to collect a range of marks using photography, drawing and found objects. You then develop these into a range of drawn marks and mark-making tools as the basis of an exploration of non-traditional enamelling processes. Demonstrations are given on a range of techniques using steel and liquid enamel. An interest in drawing and mark-making is required. Suitable for artists working in any media. Tutor: Helen Carnac is a maker and curator running an environmentally grounded practice.

Over 700 short courses are offered at West Dean each year, for all levels of ability and in a vast range of subjects from pottery, mosaic making, art and textiles, to metalworking, food, gardening and creative writing. The specialist workshops and studios at West Dean are amongst the best-equipped in the UK.

APPLYING FOR A BURSARY
Bursaries cover course fee only (includes coffee, lunch, tea). Accommodation is available from £190 for a four day course, and from £240 for a five day course. (includes dinner, bed and breakfast)

To apply for a bursary please download a form from the website: http://www.westdean.org.uk/CollegeChannel/ShortCourses/Information/FeesandBursaries.aspx

For further information contact alison.baxter@westdean.org.uk or call +44 (0)1243 811301. 

West Dean College is situated on the A286, six miles north of Chichester and six miles south of Midhurst.

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