Blacksmithing:
BA Honours Artist Blacksmithing
Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts - validated by University of Wales
Introduction
The BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing is the only undergraduate programme of its type in the UK. It has a gathering national and international reputation and is uniquely placed to be at the forefront of contemporary forged metalwork practice, it attracts ambitious and diverse students from both the UK and abroad and combines the skills of traditional blacksmithing with contemporary design.
You will be immersed in conversations about thinking and making and explore the relationship between your creative intention and the process of making alongside superb technical instruction.
Another key feature of the course is its focus on the development of your professional and entrepreneurial skills that will ensure the viability and sustainability of your future practice.
Course highlights
- Taught in the largest forge training facility in Europe
- Extensive links with the Creative Industries
- Regular opportunities to exhibit your creative practice throughout your studies and great links with galleries and national and international blacksmithing organisations
After this course
Graduates are technically expert and critically aware designers in forged metals with a broad range of transferable skills, many graduates develop careers as ‘sole traders’ setting up their own professional design studios and workshops and producing major pieces of public artwork or objects for domestic, architectural or public environments , alternatively graduates can choose to explore broader opportunities in the creative arts sector through consultancy, community arts, teaching and residencies and or undertake post graduate study .
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 learners 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
The course, which is primarily project based, encourages creative thinking and experimentation. In year one, particular emphasis is placed upon the development of appropriate drawing, design, materials manipulation and specialist blacksmithing skills. Learners are introduced to the importance of a reflective, analytical and evaluative approach through personal practical and visual research supported by learning journals.
Studio activity is underpinned by seminars and lectures in which issues of a broader cultural and contextual nature are explored.
Year Two - Level 5: establishing practice
Building upon the understandings and experiences of the first 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 defined pertinent resource base is paramount to the design process, through an evaluative and reflective 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: resolution of 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 final 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.
Learners 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.
Part of this will require the production of a business plan and market strategy focussing on their projected career intent as well as an in depth and critical analysis of an agreed area of study in the form of a dissertation.
Course Fees
All new full-time learners at Hereford College of Arts pay a tuition fee of £8000.00 (at present)
All fees are subject to change, please check with funding@hca.ac.uk and see the Finance for HE page of this website.
Key Facts
Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford College of Arts
Location: Hereford College of Arts – Whitecross Road, Hereford & HCT's Holme Lacy Campus – Rural Crafts Centre
Duration: 3 years
Attendance: Full-time
Application: UCAS application, UCAS code W720.
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
