Blacksmithing:
BA Honours Artist Blacksmithing
Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts
Introduction
This course thrives on the fact that it recruits committed and ambitious students, nationally and internationally, from a wide range of art based and forged metalwork backgrounds. Artist Blacksmiths are passionate about wanting to pursue and focus their ideas through the creative use of forged and fabricated metal to produce artefacts at the highest level. It provides an unparalleled experience for nurturing and developing Artist Blacksmithing students, which cannot be gained elsewhere within Europe or the U.K.
With a long established reputation for the quality and standards within Blacksmithing, students will contribute to the huge potential and recent surge in interest in contemporary forged metal. Whether this be through the professional production of artefacts that address areas such as interior or exterior, functional, ornamental or sculptural, public or private, small scale or architectural.
This degree is delivered by Hereford College of Arts, in collaboration with Herefordshire College of Technology. It is validated by the University of Wales.
Entry Requirements
- Students must demonstrate an understanding of the design process, a high level of commitment and curiosity within the field of Blacksmithing
- Minimum age 18
- Successful Portfolio & Interview
- 200 UCAS Tariff Points
- Mature students with related experience
- English as a second language - minimum ELTS 5.0 at interview (and achieving 6.0 by the subsequent June)
Course Content
Year One - Level 4: Investigative, Experimental and Analytical
During the first year of the course, students will be engaged in a wide variety of studio and workshop activities to introduce and develop a range of two and three dimensional processes, including the creative practice associated with traditional and contemporary approaches to Artist Blacksmithing. The course, which is primarily project based, encourages creative thinking and experimentation, particular emphasis is placed upon the development of appropriate drawing, design, materials manipulation and specialist Blacksmithing skills. Students are introduced to the importance of a refl ective, analytical and evaluative approach through personal visual research and learning journals.
An ability to communicate different design aesthetics and understanding of contemporary and professional practice is continuously cultivated within studio and workshop based projects.
Throughout the whole of year one, studio activity is underpinned by a Cultural Studies and Discourse lecture and seminar programme in which issues of a broader cultural and contextual nature are explored.
Year Two - Level 5: Develop Ideas in Differing Contexts
Building upon the understandings and experiences of the fi rst year, in year two students will be encouraged to develop a creative risk taking approach underpinned by thorough research and an independent analytical process. The creation of a clear and defi ned pertinent resource base is paramount to the design process, through an evaluative and refl ective approach students make informed choices that determine the direction of their individual creative practice. Students also have the opportunity to develop innovative solutions to ‘real’ design problems through the requirement to creatively respond to a range of different contexts. Forge work practice continues to be supported by a series of advanced specialist workshops. At the end of level 5 students critically review and analyse their progress to date and produce a statement of intent, setting out the parameters of proposed future research and concept development in the third and final year of the course.
Studio activity is further supported by a Cultural Studies and Discourse lecture and seminar programme that links and embraces the connections between theory and practice, including the introduction of professional practice as an integral component of the programme.
Year Three - Level 6: Personal Creative Practice
This final year will provide the intellectual and creative space for students fully realise their creative ambition evidenced through the production of a resolved body of work. Emphasis will be placed upon the students’ ability to demonstrate an appropriate level of professionalism, autonomous learning and the sophisticated resolution of ideas. In this fi nal year students will be required refine and resolve their creative practice, clarity of intention is paramount and a rigorous approach to all aspects of practice is essential. A series of ‘master’ classes focusing upon the development and refinement of forge work making skills will be delivered to underpin studio practice. Students will be expected to work in an increasingly self-directed manner to a professional level and will have the opportunity to produce a body of work for public exhibition.
Within Professional Practice, students will be expected to undertake subject specific seminars related to the development of their business plan and market analysis depending on their projected career interests. Students will be required to undertake an in depth and critical analysis of an agreed area of study in the form of a Dissertation.
Progression Opportunities
Many graduates start their own professional practice studios and workshops as an artist, designer, sculptor or blacksmith. Graduates have produced major pieces of public artwork and architectural installations, had stands at New Designers, Chelsea Flower Show and Malvern Spring Fair.
The knowledge and skills acquired during the course can be applied to a wide range of career opportunities within the creative industries. On completion of the course students can also progress to post graduate studies for higher qualifi cations and teaching.
Key Facts
Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts
Campus: Hereford College of Arts – Whitecross Road, Hereford & Holme Lacy – Rural Crafts Centre
Duration: 3 years
Attendance: Full-time
Course Fees: All new full time students at Hereford College of Arts pay a tuition fee of £3,375.00 (2011) per year.
All fees are subject to change, please check with funding@hca.ac.uk and see the Finance for HE page of this website.
Application: UCAS application.
Contact:
Hereford College of Arts
Tel: 01432 273359
Email: undergrad@hca.ac.uk
You can find blacksmiths in the UK with The National Directory of Blacksmiths
