Which
Programme?
Introduction
We offer a unique approach to art education. We’ve built a reputation for teaching technical skills, encouraging and enabling creative vision and supporting all who join our vibrant and welcoming community. From short, evening and weekend courses to academic courses for people serious about developing their artistic practice and becoming professionals, we offer the best quality art tuition to support your development.
We believe the best way to learn is from experts, so our classes are taught by highly skilled, practising artists, including prize-winners, members of leading art organisations and artists with work in national collections. Furthermore, we keep our class sizes small, so that everyone gets a hands-on experience. Our specialist academic courses include a three-year BA, a two-year Foundation Degree in either Contemporary Portraiture or Sculpture, a two-year Certificate Programme and a one year pre-degree Fine Art Foundation.
For more information please call our office, +44(0)20 7407 6969 or email academiccourses@artacademy.org.uk and our dedicated Academic team will be more than happy to talk you through all the options and discuss what might be the best fit for you.
Fine Art Foundation
Full Time: 1 year, 3 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Part Time: 2 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm
A pre-degree course for those wanting to study art or design at a higher level. This course develops your skills, creativity and conceptual and critical understanding. Unlike other Foundation courses you will have the opportunity to devise your own individually tailored programme, learning the skills relevant to your goals. You will focus on developing a strong portfolio that will give you a good chance of achieving a place at a sought-after art school or University.
As a full time student you will attend 3 tutored days per week at the Academy and undertake a further day independently developing your individual project work. As a part time student you will attend 2 tutored days per week and on average a half day independently developing your individual project work.
This course offers more contact time with tutors than most other Foundation courses available in the UK.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*
BA (Hons) Fine Art
Full Time: 3 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Part Time: 6 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Our BA* is designed for those aiming to establish an artistic practice. It gives you the freedom to pursue your own interests and aptitudes through a bespoke programme of study.
Our teaching approach is unique: we keep our class sizes small, and you’ll benefit from the highest tutor contact hours of any higher education art course in the UK. You’ll learn both traditional and contemporary skills from expert tutors who are all practising artists themselves.
As well as helping you develop the in-depth technical skills needed to take your art practice forward, you’ll be encouraged to think critically about the wider theoretical and historical contexts of your discipline(s), and apply that knowledge to your practical work.
*subject to validation
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*
Contemporary Portraiture FD
Full time: 2 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Part time: 4 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Embrace the diversity of contemporary art practices while learning the technical and creative skills needed to become a portrait painter in this one-of-a-kind specialist programme*.
Our teaching approach is unique: we keep our class sizes small, and you’ll benefit from the highest tutor contact hours of any higher education art course in the UK. You’ll learn both traditional and contemporary skills from expert tutors, including some of Britain’s top practising portrait artists; from members of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters and winners of the BP Portrait Award to those with work in national collections including the National Portrait Gallery.
*subject to validation
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*
Sculpture FD
Full Time: 2 years, 3-4 days per week, 10am – 5pm
Part Time: 4 years, 2 days per week, 10am – 5pm
This programme offers an exciting opportunity to study sculpture in all its manifestations. We’re one of the few art institutions allowing students to explore both figurative sculpture techniques alongside alternative and abstract approaches.
The Sculpture FD* will prepare you for a career as a sculptor within the fields of commission-based figurative work, site-specific public sculpture and gallery-based practice(s). It will also teach you transferable skills for employment within the wider creative industries.
*subject to validation
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*
Certificate
Recommended Pathway: 2 years, 1 day a week, 10am – 5pm
Fast Track Pathway: 1 year, 2 days a week, 10am – 5pm
Our Certificate Course is ideal if you want to start developing your abilities but have limited time. You will specialise in one of four disciplines: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture or Printmaking, or complete a Fine Art Certificate across multiple disciplines.
In joining the Academy you will have access to talks by visiting artists and artistic tutorials with a tutor of your choice. Furthermore you will be invited to exhibit in the end of year Graduate Show upon completion of your Certificate.
All academic students are able to take advantage of free places on the Academy’s public courses (evening, weekend and short courses). These are available at the discretion of the Academy and subject to availability.*
Short Courses
If you have less time, we offer an amazing range of short courses, five and 10-week evening courses, intensive weekend courses, masterclasses, young artist courses and taster courses.
For more information see our Short Courses, email shortcourses@artacademy.org.uk or call us on +44 (0)207 701 2880.
*Free places are only available on those courses which have not achieved full enrolment. Places are allocated on a first come first serve basis and the Academy cannot guarantee any place.
