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There aren’t many recession friendly hobbies that you can take up, that are not only affordable but also therapeutic. Let’s face it – how much does it cost to buy some pencils, pastels or paper? Another added incentive is that your work could make you some cash or lead to progression into Higher Education.
Aspiring and established artists study art to learn new techniques used with the different forms of artistic media. The fantastic and interesting thing about Art is that it is never stagnant, because people don’t stay the same. Your work reflects often your state of mind and life in general sometimes!
All over Ireland, there are Vocational Educational Committees who run adult learning centres alongside their secondary education facilities. Most of these run FETAC accredited Art courses. There are numerous Post Leaving Certificate centres, that also run similar courses, as well as other non-VEC secondary education providers who run part-time and evening Art courses. These courses can run from six weeks to one/two years (if it is FETAC accredited).
The costs range from 100 euros to 200 euros. Means tested PLC Maintenance Grants are available to students who are progressing to a FETAC Level 5/6 Award or equivalent and who have not previously studied for such an award.
Malahide Community School, as part of their Adult Learning programme, run a ten week evening Art course. This course provides an introduction to drawing and painting using the various applied arts mediums and encourages pupils to discover their own creative skills. Beginners and more experienced are welcome to attend.
Kinsale College of Further Education, through their Further Education/PLC education programme, run a two year FETAC Art course. They offer an excellent opportunity to assemble a portfolio of work, which participants may use to gain access to Diploma/Degree courses. Students pursuing this course have obtained some of the best results in the country. They also organise an exhibition of work in May. They cover painting, drawing, combined material work, printed textiles, sculpture, photography and Art Appreciation. On completion of this course students will have a large portfolio of work suitable for applying for places in any of the 3rd level art institutions in Ireland, the U.K. and Europe. Former students attend and have graduated from the National College of Art and Design, Galway School of Art, IADT Dun Laoghaire, and the Crawford College of Art & Design in Cork. Further Career Opportunities include: Practicing Artist, Photographer, Fashion Designer, Graphic Design, Craft Industry (Glass, Pottery etc.) and Art Retail/Gallery Opportunities.
If you wish to pursue a course for personal or self-enlightenment reasons, there are Creative Art courses for personal awareness. PCI College run a one day intensive ‘Personal Awareness through Art’ work-shop.
Participants are shown the connection between creative expression and personal development. Within a non-judgemental climate of safety and acceptance, participants have the opportunity to explore creative expression through working with art materials, images and symbols. The workshop is open to anyone interested in gaining a personal understanding of the benefits of creative expression as part of personal development and the therapeutic process. No expertise or previous experience is necessary to attend this workshop.
Old Bawn Community School run an Improvers and Beginners course in Art. The Beginners course introduces participants to drawing, design, watercolours and oils. After the Beginners course, you can progress to the ‘Art Improvers’ course. This is an ideal opportunity to pursue further Art studies, after the completion of their Beginner Course.
Many of those who attain FETAC accredited qualifications in Art can progress to Higher Education courses, similar to those on offer in the Art & Design Department of GMIT. A number of places are reserved on most Higher Level Art courses for FETAC applicants. This is a restricted-application programme. As well as the minimum requirements for programmes in GMIT, entry to this programme is by interview/portfolio assessment. Graduates may proceed to the Level 8 honours degree programmes in Fine Art or Textile Design in the Department of Art and Design at GMIT or to other institutions nationally and internationally.
It is important to enquire from individual course providers what course materials are required to participate in their course. Some providers charge an additional fee to cover course and class materials. Others will ask you to have some basic materials to begin with. Essential requirements for beginners could include: a good quality wire backed A3/A4 size sketchpad, three graphite pencils, B, 3B, 5B and a soft plastic-type eraser.
Our various life experiences affect us in different ways, and our responses to those experiences affect our mood and behaviour. Art is an ideal way to express yourself in an entertaining and constructive way. Art also lets us express our passions and our hopes. With a new year, many of us make resolutions to take up a hobby. Drawing, painting or sculpting is a great hobby whilst being personally beneficial for the participant. You never know, you could discover the Da Vinci in you!
Find more art classes by searching our Media Art and Design Courses |
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