Projects and Critiques
In the first two terms students will work on a series of projects aimed at allowing a range of approaches and ideas around contemporary art. At the end of each project the group will critique the work and share ideas. The summer term will allow time to explore a self-directed project culminating in a public exhibition in Oxford.
Individual Tutorials
One-to-one tutorials and mentoring sessions are offered on a regular basis throughout the year. The focus of the tutorials will be the consolidation of the artists practice, how it can develop and constructive and meaningful ways forward.
Group Critiques
Ongoing sessions to present and analyse work will build confidence and encourage students to give and receive feedback from their peer group as well as from tutors. Frequent group discussions centre upon sharing each individual’s progress and how that can be supported.
Talks by Visiting Artists
Many artists have been invited to give talks about their work giving the students an understanding of the broad range of practices in contemporary art- these have included painters, sculptors, performance, video and installation artists. This also gives the students a forum for discussing the many pathways in creative practice open to them. Previous artists have included: Roly Carline, Jumana Hokan, KV, Neil Musson, Lucy Stopford, John Blythe, Simon Lewendowski, Ann Rapstoff, Guy Read, Angela Stauber, Cally Trench, Can Yuan amongst many others.
Gallery Visits
Visits to exhibitions in local and national venues is an essential part of the programme. These are undertaken as a group as well as individually. These help inform the students of contemporary as well as traditional creative practice.
Study Trips
During the year-long course two trips are undertaken. The initial trip, in the first term, of three days, is to a UK city. These have included; Hull, Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol, Liverpool among others. The second trip, in the second term, is to a major European city and lasts for approximately one week. These locations have included Berlin, Rome, Naples, Madrid, Lisbon amongst others.
Artist Networking
Currently based in the new and exciting art-sauce venue in East Oxford the Warehouse Art School has a diverse and broad network of artists and designer/makers throughout the City and Students are encouraged to make use of and develop and expand these networks. The Art School has formed many strong connections with other organisations and galleries in Oxford including Oxford Town Hall Gallery, Modern Art Oxford, The Old Fire Station and Pitt Rivers Museum, Fusion and the Ashmolean Museum.
Exhibition
During the final term participants prepare for an exhibition centred in Oxford. WAS does not have a permanent exhibition space, but there are a number of suitable venue(s) we can negotiate with, depending on the requirements needed each year. Students are given full support with installing and hanging their work, publicising the exhibition and ensuring the work is presented in the best way possible. Both primary tutors have many years exhibition experience in their own right as well as for others. A group critique also takes place during the exhibition period ensuring an ongoing dialogue concerning the students work and how it moves forward after the course.
Guest Tutors
Together with the joint course leaders Didi Baldwin and Roger Perkins, projects and workshops are also led by invited artists. These have included Juliet Bankes (printmaking), Adrian Arbib (photography), Katie Taylor (materials), Hannah Wilmshurst (analogue photography), Jon Place (Design, graphics), Roger Pugh (digital animation), Ann-Marie LeQuesne (Collaborative Performance) and Gabriele Kern (text and image).
