Students exhibit at Staffordshire Fringe Festival

Following on from their success at the Chelsea Flower show, students studying the Foundation degree in Contemporary Art Practice were invited to be part of an exhibition at the Staffordshire Fringe Festival.

Everyone involved in putting the garden together displayed examples of the work at the university's Pavilion, they got the chance to meet and speak with the other artists and talk to members of the public about their involvement. 

Students from the surface pattern course at the university were there along with a flower maker demonstrating techniques and representatives from the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB), the time lapse film of the garden being constructed was also playing during the evening, going a sense of the process and techniques used.

To find out more about about studying the Foundation degree in Contemporary Art Practice at NULC click here.

Students showcase designs to the public

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) are celebrating the heritage of Stoke-on-Trent’s ceramic industry.

As part of their end of year project the creative students studying the Foundation National Diploma in Art and Design and Extended Diploma in Art and Design are working with the British Ceramics Biennial.

The event titled A Place at the Table, will take place on Thursday 6 June at 6.00pm at The Spode Works on Elenora Street in Stoke.

The students who specialise in 3D Designs and Fashion have produced individual responses for their final major project.  The one off event will see students collaboratively construct a performance event.

During the event visitors will be able to view a fashion show and table installation as well being entertained by live music.

Cheryl Smith, Curriculum Leader at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, said: “The event will be very unique and is a celebration of ceramics and fashion and will feature bespoke designs from some of our most talented and creative students.”

Cheryl added: “As a College we’re extremely proud to be working with such a prestigious and internationally renowned organisation as the British Ceramics Biennial. Through our work with BCB, students have been able to gain industry skills and benefit from working alongside outstanding ceramics professionals.”

Entrance to the event is free but visitors must confirm their attendance prior to the event by contacting the College on 01782 254323 or emailing Natalie.cliff@nulc.ac.uk.

College students help win silver at Chelsea Flower Show

Stoke-on-Trent’s entry into the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has won a silver award.  The Potteries' Transformation Garden, which has seen contributions from students at Newcastle-under-Lyme College, was designed to represent the city's industrial heritage along with the on-going regeneration in the area.

Students studying the Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice at NULC have been making ceramic flowers as part of the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB).  The first year students worked with Rita Floyd making ceramic flowers which were part of the final installation showcased at yesterday’s Chelsea Flower Show.

The Contemporary Art Practice students have also been using the theme and traditional ceramic technique as the starting point for their project at the College’s University Centre.

Yesterday students from the College travelled to the Chelsea Flower Show where they mingled with celebrities and viewed their work  A number of celebrities toured the gardens including Davina McCall, Ringo Starr, George Lamb, Judith Chalmers, Gary Kemp, Jerry Hall, Ben Fogle, Rob Brydon, Laurence Llewelyn Bowen and Kirstie Allsopp who tweeted from her @KirstieMAllsopp account: "This is the Stoke-on-Trent Garden. Each flower is hand-made in Stoke!”

NULC student Kate Windsor (pictured below), aged 43, of Penkhull, who was involved in the project, said: "I didn't expect to be meeting so many celebrities, it has been amazing. We are all incredibly proud of the finished product."

The College is now calling for members of the public to vote for The Potteries' Transformation Garden in the popular RHS People's Choice competition.  It is the only award at the Chelsea Flower Show that is decided by public vote and people have until 4pm on Friday 24 May to vote by visiting http://www.rhs.org.uk/chelsea.

To find out more about studying the Foundation degree in Contemporary Art Practice at Newcastle-under-Lyme College's University Centre click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

College Photography Students Score with Manchester United

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) photography students, with the help of Holdcroft Chevrolet, score with Manchester United’s Captain Nemanja Vidić.


Three students studying Photography & Digital Imaging at NULC landed a location shoot with Manchester United. This was for the Young Creative Chevrolet competition project brief they had been set as part of their course.

NULC students Bethany Morris, Joshua Platt and Toni Langdridge approached Holdcroft Chevrolet in Hanley in the hope that they might be able to give them access to a car for a few hours to shoot for the Young Creative Chevrolet competition project brief.

NULC Students (from L-R) Joshua Platt, Bethany Morris and Toni Langdridge with Manchester United player Nemanja Vidic.

Mike Shotbolt, General Manager of the Leek Road dealership loaned the College a car for twenty four hours and helped the students land the amazing opportunity of a location shoot with Manchester United and Serbian international Nemanja Vidić at the Premiership club’s Carrington training ground in Manchester.

Mike Shotbolt said, “The students displayed initiative, enthusiasm and good organisational skills and as a local employer its fantastic to see this level of motivation and positive attitude from young people and so Holdcroft Chevrolet were glad to support them with their project and help all we could”

Alex Williams, Course Leader said, “As part of the Extended Diploma course we try to impress on students that being a successful photographer is not just about the technical skills we teach but equally important is initiative and interpersonal skills and Bethany, Josh and Toni have clearly displayed shown they possess these and that they can take ownership of a project and work independently”

The three budding David Baileys complete their studies in June and Bethany has been offered a place on a Business Apprenticeship whilst Josh has accepted a place at Staffordshire University to study Photojournalism and Toni is progressing on to NULC’s Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice.

To find out more information about Photography courses at Newcastle-under-Lyme College call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk.

Students fired up by new glass kiln

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) has invested £5,000 in a new glass kiln further strengthening the College’s reputation as a leading provider for Art and Design in Staffordshire.

The investment in the specialist glass kiln allows the College to extend the opportunities available within the existing curriculum for current full-time students and also opens up new markets and opportunities in part-time recreational courses for adult learners.

Deb Hilditch, Curriculum Manager for Art and Design, said: “A number of art and design Higher Education institutions have some form of glass facility; in offering our pre-degree students the opportunity to encounter this material we will be helping them to strengthen their portfolios and increase their progression options.”

Deb added: “Glass is a material that fascinates, intrigues and captivates and there is demand for recreational courses and qualifications that allow people to develop skills with it.”

“Working with kiln glass is relatively simple and inexpensive, and it’s something that is increasingly readily seen within commercial art and design outlets from coasters and Christmas decorations to platters and jewellery to large scale wall installation pieces.”

The kiln will next be in use during the College’s new CREATE Glass course which starts on Wednesday 17 April.  The part-time recreational course runs for five weeks from 6.30pm – 8.30pm and is designed to offer adults of all ages and backgrounds the opportunity to explore their creativity and will provide an introduction into fused glass, whereby learners will be taught how to cut and assemble glass for fusing and create a number of items to take away with them at the end of the course.

To find out more about the new CREATE – Glass course visit www.nulc.ac.uk or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.

Student's contribute to Chelsea Flower Show

Students from the Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice have been making ceramic flowers as part of the British Ceramics Biennial (BCB).

The first year students worked with Rita Floyd making flowers to be part of the Chelsea Flower Show, the work created within College will go in to the final installation at Chelsea.

The students have learned traditional flower making techniques from Rita who has worked in the industry for 40 years.  Ceramic flowers are being made by Rita Ford and Jeanette Seabridge, and are formed by hand to create the different shapes and structures for the garden. BCB is aiming to highlight these traditional flower-making skills by finding alternative uses for the flowers,which were once widespread in Stoke but are now manufactured by a single factory, Aynsley China.

The Contemporary Art Practice students will also be using the theme as the starting point for their next project and hope to visit the show in Chelsea to see some of their work in-situ.

The students’ flowers will sit alongside 800 other flowers that Rita and Jeanette have made especially for the installation.

The British Ceramics Biennial is collaborating with The Stoke-on-Trent Garden Partnership garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show.   BCB is responsible for creating 800 bone china ‘flower-bricks’, coping-stones, and kerb-stones for the garden, called Transformation, together with a dramatic, two metre swag of ceramic flowers.

To find out more about studying the Foundation degree in Contemporary Art Practice at Newcastle-under-Lyme College's University Centre click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

Students logo designs shortlisted in competition

Two HE students from NULC have had their logo designs shortlisted in a competition to find the best seal of approval for Further Education (FE) providers.

The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) launched a contest for FE students to produce a graphic mark that best reflected ‘chartered status’, a concept being developed by the government that would recognise top FE providers.

Daniel Mountford and Mimi Jones, both studying Foundation degrees (Fds) at the College, are among five students who had their entries selected from around 130 entries.  The competition was shortlisted by a judging panel and FE Minister Matthew Hancock will pick a winner from six designs (Daniel had two entries selected) over the coming week.

Digital media production student Daniel, 21 said: “I couldn’t believe it and was shocked and surprised to be shortlisted, especially as it was a national competition.  Obviously as a design student it’s your ultimate aim to get your work out there and this is a great opportunity for that.”

Students were tasked with the brief on 8th January and developed their designs over the course of a week.  Richard Hunter, Curriculum Leader in Graphics and Digital Design and Digital Media Production at NULC said: “Competitions like this are a great way for students to get real experience of working on actual live briefs which will enhance their studies and portfolios and ultimately prepare them for their career on completion of their course.”

Graphics and digital design student Mimi, 21 agrees: “The more competitions you enter the better as it gets you ready to work for clients, working to a deadline and working out what they want.”
The winning designer picks up an iPad, spends a day (fully paid) working with FE Week head designer Dan Duke and has the chance that their emblem could represent the chartered status brand.

FE providers would apply for chartered status and if they met certain criteria such as showing strong leadership and management and having excellent feedback from learners as well as a programme of community activity endorsed by Local Enterprise Partnerships, they could use the term in reference to their title.

To find out more about HE courses at NULC visit the website.

Floristry students decorate St George's Church

A group of Floristry students from NULC spent yesterday decorating St George's Church in Newcastle in preparation for Christmas.

The students learnt about large scale floral arrangements and event decoration and gained invaluable experience of working with a client.

The arrangements were made using a selection of flowers, as well as foliage collected from the Churchyard.

Louise Johnson, Floristry lecturer, said: "The students had a great day. This experience will really benefit them as they go onto professional careers as florists."

Newcastle-under-Lyme College is holding its annual College Carol Service at St George's Church on Friday 21 December at 11am.

For more information about Floristry courses at NULC visit the website.

Music Photographer shares advice with budding photographers at NULC

Tony Woolliscroft, music photographer to bands including Foo Fighters and Red Hot Chilli Peppers for the past 20 years, paid a visit to photography students at NULC on Friday 14 December for a portfolio review.

Extended Diploma Photography and Digital Imaging students who have a passion for music photography received one-to-one feedback sessions on their own music photography work, as Tony provided hints and tips for the students to progress into the industry.

Alex Williams, Curriculum Leader for the Extended Diploma in Photography and Digital Imaging, said: “It was a fantastic opportunity for our students who’re interested in music photography, to receive feedback from a local person who has been in the industry since the mid 1990’s.  We’ll be looking to maintain this link with Tony, and have talks and reviews with future students on the course.”

Dan Hutton, Hannah Pugh, Tony Woolliscroft, Zoe Chetwynd, Helena Raby and Sue Bowdery

Alex added: “It also provides inspiration to the learners – Tony is from Stoke and has followed his interests to travel the world and photograph many music greats.  Hopefully we’ll see some of our students doing the same in the future.”
 
 To find out more about Extended Diploma Photography & Digital Imaging at NULC click here or contact alex.williams@nulc.ac.uk.

Floristry students gain inspiration from Tatton Park

On Wednesday 5 December, students from NULC enjoyed a festive visit Tatton Park.

The BTEC Level 2 Floristry students and City and Guilds Level 2 Horticulture students, spent the day at Tatton Park in Knutsford, Cheshire. The visit provided the students with the opportunity to  look around the extensive gardens of the estate and visit the mansion house, which was decorated using a Dickensian theme.

 
The horticultural students experienced winter planting themes, while the floristry students gained inspiration for large event floral decorations.

To find out more about studying Floristry at NULC click here or contact the Information Point on 01782 254254 or info@nulc.ac.uk.