BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma Fine Art

You will hold a minimum of four GCSEs at grades 4 (or above).

This will include maths and English, as well as an art & design and/or design & technology qualification.

You will meet with a course tutor; please bring a current portfolio of your work.

This art and design course offers the opportunity to study a variety of exciting specialist art and design approaches. The content of this course is multi-disciplined as it focuses on informing ideas, solving problems, numerous creative elements, technical skills, professional practice and the communication skills linked to art and design influences. You will work with a wide range of intricate techniques and processes to develop innovative ideas and concepts for visual communication. You will get the opportunity to explore the following design processes:

• Multi-disciplinary work
• Fine art
• Surface pattern
• Textiles
• Illustration
• Contextual studies
• Photography
• Apple Mac skills.

You will complete four modules over the two years: Year 1

• Exploring and developing art and design skills
• Creative project

Year 2

• Professional practice
• Creative Industry response

You will also develop the following fundamental skills:

• Informing ideas – You will explore skills for development of ideas and outcomes as they evolve and progress through a variety of practical applications.
• Problem solving – You will develop skills for problem solving throughout development by engaging with briefs and its requirements. You will broaden and deepen your skills, knowledge and understanding of creative thinking, across contemporary and historical art and design, in order to inform your own practice.
• Technical skills – You will develop technical skills that exploit the potential of medias, materials, techniques and processes. You will develop technical skills to influence further developments in your artwork.
• Professional practice - You will develop skills for applying professionalism to develop through practice, project management and working safely.
• Communication – You will develop your knowledge and understanding of skills in communication through art and design. You will study how practitioners use meaning, purpose and function of work including developing, outcomes and presentation.

Alongside developing a good grounding of basic art and design skills, you will be encouraged to explore and develop more experimental strategies to enhance your creativity in all assignments. You will take part in a number of innovative practical and written assignments and will be advised on how you could improve. Formative feedback will be an integral part of your learning and progression and will include practical and written assessments, critiques, presentations and one-to-one tutorials. You will have a supportive team of art and design staff to assist you throughout the programme. Our objective is to prepare you with a sound basis for your future career.

We are very proud of our strong links with well-established organisations within the art and design industry. These links will enable you to learn more about the creative sector and will provide you with valuable employment experience through live briefs, guest speakers and competitions. Past students have accepted fantastic opportunities to work with a range of organisations, including:

• Durham Cathedral
• Gillian Arnold Designs
• The Gala Theatre
• Durham Market
• Durham County Council

You will undertake a meaningful 10-day work placement, to develop your skills and knowledge in a relevant area. You will take part in employability sessions to ensure you develop the key skills for full-time employment.

You could progress to study FdA Visual Arts or FdA Graphic Design at New College Durham or a relevant course at university. You could pursue a career in one of the following areas:

• Fine Art
• Fashion
• Illustration
• Painting
• Printmaking
• Textiles
• Surface Pattern
• Interior Design
• Animation
• Graphic Design
• Architecture.