Hereford College of Art

HISTORY

Hereford College of Arts is an art school based in the West Midlands, UK, and is the only specialist college in the region dedicated to the Arts.

The college was founded in 1851 and was known as Herefordshire College of Art & Design. The name changed to incorporate the inclusion of Music and Performing Arts. In 2012, a new Arts Space and main entrance for Folly Lane was unveiled, providing much needed social, café and exhibition space. Designed by Hewitt Studios and constructed by Keir Moss, the contemporary and innovative space was funded entirely from college reserves. Landscaped gardens and outdoor areas are integrated into the design. This highly functional space has already hosted a number of exhibitions and events as well as being enjoyed on a day-to-day basis by students and staff. It’s kitted out with striking café furniture, soft seating and tables, flexible exhibition panels, wi-fi access and touch-screen computers.

The design and architecture has generated great interest from national and regional bodies, and has been shortlisted and awarded for:

• 2014 Green Apple Award
• 2013 Civic Trust Award
• 2012 West Midlands RIBA Award
• 2012 West of England LABC Building Excellence Award
• 2012 Wood Award.

It has also been profiled by MADE to showcase how design is improving the quality of the built environment in the West Midlands and also featured in a cross-section of architectural journals and magazines from the UK and abroad.

In June 2013 HCA acquired the former Royal National College building on College Road. This outstanding building provides much needed teaching, social, studio and workshop spaces for the growing University-Level community, and places degree students closer to the main campus on Folly Lane, with plenty of affordable student housing close-by, including halls of residence.

COURSES

It offers courses in both further and higher education fields, in Art & Design, Music and Performing Arts, to local, national and international students. The College has two campuses; Folly Lane is home to College-level courses and the former Royal National College for the Blind building on College Road is home to University-level courses. The BA (Hons) Artist Blacksmithing Course is the only one of its kind in the UK, and is taught at the largest teaching forge in Europe. Students at HCA exhibit their work regularly, and the College welcomes thousands of visitors every year to its annual Summer Show. Many students are selling their work before they graduate, via commissions, live briefs and their own practises. Music and Performing Arts students stage regular productions based at the College and at external venues. Students attend regular specialist shows and conferences and have good links with external companies to further activities.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Academic Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate that they have reached the entry standard stated on the individual course page.  Equivalent qualifications from an applicant’s own country will also be considered as well as other qualifications such as the International Baccalaureate.

English Language Requirements

• Applicants requiring a student visa whose first language is not English will need to provide evidence of sufficient competence via an approved test.
• There are also English language requirements specific to the courses which can be found on the individual course pages of the website.  They outline the overall IELTS Score that the course requires.

A portfolio of work
Either on CD/DVD or an online portfolio

Interview
All applicants will be interviewed either in person or via Skype to ensure that entry requirements are met and that the course is suitable. Proof of existing qualifications will need to be presented at the application stage in order to comply with UK Visa and Immigration requirements.

ACADEMIC STRENGTHS

They are dedicated to growing purposeful and collaborative creative adventurers the world needs.  As a dedicated College of Arts they offer a very distinctive environment to develop their creative potential. With lots of individual attention from staff and all sorts of other inspiration, They will invite the students to be daring, brave, inquisitive and inventive.

They are devoted to provide a supportive environment in which innovative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment are  encouraged, valued and recognised for all staff and students in the college

TEACHING STANDARDS

Every student, their needs and potential, remains at the heart of what they do and the staff are valued and supported to work together in an open and dynamic College community

Education through creative arts practice is the distinctive feature of all their provision and they support the employability and entrepreneurial ambitions of their students

CAREERS GUIDANCE

Typical areas of guidance are:

• help and advice about vocational  opportunities
• a programme of careers inductions
• one-to-one advice support and help
• help with making applications and job interview skills
• opportunities to engage with the creative industries through visits, live projects, and possible work placements
• a careers library with up-to-date information and specialist careers software plus a comprehensive careers website and noticeboard
• careers support after graduating for three years