Collage showing students working in different mediums including painting at an easel, making 3D sculptures from paper and screen printing

Creative & Visual Arts

Qualification: Diploma
Level 2

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About this course

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Are you interested in exploring your creativity and pursuing a career in the creative and visual arts? If so this one-year course is an excellent place to start.

It offers you the opportunity to explore and develop your creativity as well as providing you with a range of skills and knowledge. It will also enhance your self-confidence and reveal the potential career opportunities that exist in the sector.

The course provides you with a broad range of studies covering skills such as Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, 3D work, Graphics, Textiles and Fashion.

You will enhance your research skills through trips to galleries, museums and specialist workshops. In the summer term, you will showcase your work to the public and local employers in our professional art exhibition.

On this course you will follow a full-time Study Programme made up of the following four compulsory elements to best prepare you for progression to employment, apprenticeships, further study or applying to university:

  • The main subject qualification
  • Work experience for a minimum of 37 hours or, on some courses, up to 50 days over an academic year. You will be expected to find placements by researching companies, contacting employers and speaking with college staff. 
  • English and maths where students have not yet achieved GCSE grade 4 or above in these subjects
  • Additional enhancing activities such as tutorials and work-related learning, including careers fairs, site visits and guest speakers, to help further develop the personal skills relevant to your progression goals

The Creative and Visual Arts Diploma qualification

  • Materials, processes and technical skills in creative and visual arts
  • Contextual research
  • Drawing skills
  • Solving 2D creative visual problems, using drawing, illustration, graphics, textiles and printmaking
  • Solving 3D design and craft problems using a range of resistant material
  • Solving time-based creative problems within photography and moving imagery
  • Communication skills in creative and visual arts
  • Developing and producing a personal project

Trips, visits and activities

As part of the course you will also take part in industry trips and activities including networking events, visits and guest lectures. Previous events have included:

  • Visiting artists
  • Gallery trips
  • Industry networking opportunities through work experience and a dedicated industry week
  • Guest lectures from a wide range of industry professionals
  • Opportunity to meet representatives from universities
  • Exhibition hosted at an external gallery

• Well equipped art studios
• Large and fully equipped photography studio
• Photography dark room
• Suite of Apple Macs
• Gallery exhibition space

Explore our virtual tour (new window)

Course assessed by:

  • 100% coursework / practical

4 GCSEs grade 3 or above (including English and maths) 

AND 

Portfolio of artwork/photography

You will be required to attend a college interview prior to enrolling onto this course. This will include a short written art assessment. 

Find out more about How to Apply

Start Date Course Times Duration Campus Fees
02/09/24 TBC 1 year Main campus

The Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design prepares you to go on to a more advanced course such as:

  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Creative & Visual Arts
  • Level 3 Extended Diploma in Photography & Digital Imaging

With further training or study, you can consider a range of careers in:

  • Graphic Design
  • Illustration
  • Fashion/Textiles
  • 3D Design
  • Interior Design

If you will be aged 19 before the start of the second year of this course, you will be liable to pay a fee for that year. Please contact us for more information.

Course costs

Consumables of £30 will have to be paid at first session of the course.

Specialist materials are provided, however, students are expected to have workbooks, materials and equipment for drawing, painting, cutting and glueing. A recommended starter kit list will be given to students on enrolment.