SWANSEA College of Art is the jewel at the centre of a city which is fast becoming a haven for creative minds. Having been shortlisted for the major award of City of Culture for 2021, the city is the ideal environment for any prospective student who wants to make an impact using their creativity and ingenuity in the future.
Swansea was known as Copperopolis by the 1820s because the city's nine copper works made it a world centre of copper production. But the city has recently emerged as a creative, not industrial, community in part due to nurturing of the visual arts. The College of Art is central to the city's flourishing creative community, which includes several galleries and which is located in the dramatic Swansea Bay.
For international students looking for a haven for their creativity to flourish, this creative haven in the making could be just the place you're seeking. We're going to take a look at three areas of study the College of Art offers below.
Final year students enrolled on the Surface Pattern Design courses at Swansea College of Art have the chance to exhibit at the New Designers show in London, and students have plenty of support to get to that level during their studies. The college's facilities are second to none: they feature luxurious computer suites, laser cutters and engravers, digital textile printers and a digital embroiderer.
Students also have their own light and airy studio space for all four years of their course and have exposure to an industry work environment through live projects spread throughout the course. This means students can get involved with mood boarding, competitor analysis, shop reporting, pattern development and colour analysis.
One recent live project in collaboration with H&M highlighted the strong connections the Surface Pattern Design course has developed with industry, and six students from the course have been accepted for work placements in Stockholm with the company.
In fact, one recent graduate of the course Rosie Cook says that everything she learned at Swansea had been useful, and she particularly focused on her experience there, "working on live design briefs." Rosie Cook worked in Stockholm for H&M before launching her own design range with Made.com.
According to the college, the Photography in the Arts course at the college challenges provides a space for students to "challenge the conventions of contemporary photographic art." The course certainly has a great reputation among students: 95% of students who studied on the BA course told the National Student Survey 2016 they were satisfied with their course.
One of the strong points of the college's approach is the high level of interaction between students and staff, as class sizes are small. Furthermore, through a programme of visiting lecturers students are also able to gain insights and inspiration from sources outside of the college too, from speakers such as Martin Parr and other renowned industry figures.
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Students are encouraged to find their individual pathway through the photography courses at Swansea College of Art, in order to forge a unique individual signature to their work.
Veronica Sanchis Bencomo had the chance to study different photographers working in Mexico, interview Hispanic photographers for Ventana Latina Magazine in London and then her project evolved into Foto Feminas: "Having this background from my university studies definitely had an importance in the developing of my future ideas."
The BA (Hons) Film and TV programme at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David embraces the demands of the contemporary film and TV industries, looking forward to future developments yet steeped in traditional filmmaking techniques.
The course has close connections to the industry, and students are encouraged to develop the technical, creative and professional skills necessary to forge their future careers in film and television. The department retains close links to Europe's largest independent production studio, Bay Studios.
Students are also given a rare opportunity open to UK film students: the Swansea College of Art provides students with the facilities and support to run their own film festival, the Copper Coast International Film Festival.
Art college filmmakers also have access to multiple workshops covering the essential technical skills needed for a successful career in filmmaking: classes on mastering Canon, Red, Sony, Dedo and Kino Flo equipment are available to students who want to get to grips with the latest equipment.
All in all, Swansea certainly seems like a place prospective creative arts students should be considering - a beautiful setting for a studio by the shore, supportive and encouraging teaching and a vibrant community to match.
This editorial was sponsored by the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, to find out more about their courses take a look at their profile.
