Creative students shine in A Level success

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) is celebrating exceptional success in its A Level results for creative subjects.

Art and Design, Art Textiles, Film Studies, Graphic Design and Photography all achieved 100% pass rate.

Pictured: Gemma Hawkins A* in Graphic Design

Creative subjects achieving exceptional success include Film Studies where 70% of students achieved grades A* - B.  In Graphic Design 78% of students achieved A*- B grades and Media Studies where 71% of students achieved grades A* - B.

The A Level success was also mirrored in the AS Level results where Film Studies received the most A – B grades across all Sixth Form subjects.  A total of 70% of students studying Film Studies achieved grades A - B.

Student Elizabeth Nemeth achieved 2 A* and 2 A grades, with A* in Film Studies and A in Media Studies.  Elizabeth who is going on to study Film at Warwick University said “The College staff are brilliant and have always been available when you need them.  I would thoroughly recommend NULC, the courses here are brilliant and the staff are so generous and supportive.”

Pictured: Elizabeth Nemeth A*A*AA

To find out more about the A Level success at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/results.

Enterprising students raise money for charity

A team of design students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) presented a cheque to local charity, University Hospital North Staffs (UHNS).

The student design team, called ‘16 Degrees’, raised over £500 in 3 months by designing, producing and selling a range of limited edition t-shirts, bags and screen-prints with quirky slogans, such as ‘better late than never’ and ‘every cloud has a silver lining’.

16 Degrees comprises of a group of 16 students, ranging from ages 20 to 35, on the Foundation degree (Fd) in Graphics and Digital Design at NULC.

16 degrees team member, Charlotte McIntyre aged 20 said “The project has been such a success, we are so pleased to have been able to raise awareness and money for a great, local cause.”

Pictured: Members of the 16 Degrees design team

Local college awards young film-makers with an OSCAR winner

Young film-makers were given the opportunity to have their films screened in front of an OSCAR winner at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

The Heat Wave Film Festival organised by NULC was set up to promote film making amongst young people.  The Film Festival had 6 categories and was open to all local high school pupils and current NULC students.

OSCAR winning computer imagery artist and former NULC student Pete Bebb, who recently won an Academy Award for his work on the Leonardo Di Caprio blockbuster Inception, spent the day at NULC where he conducted a question and answer session with current NULC students before judging the film entries and awarding the winning young film makers alongside local independent film maker and another former student Chris Stone.

Reflecting on the day Pete Bebb said “The film festival has been brilliant, it has been a real inspiration to meet such enthusiastic students.  The quality of students at the College is great and I expect to see some great things from these students in the future.”

Pictured: Pete Bebb during his Q&A session

“The facilities at the College are amazing and have certainly been designed to encourage the next generation of film makers.” continued Pete.

Charlotte McIntyre aged 20, a current NULC student studying the Foundation degree in Graphics and Digital Design won the award for Best Overall Film for her film Bianco.  Charlotte said “The film festival has been amazing, getting the chance to meet an OSCAR winner is a once in a life time opportunity.  We had a questions and answer session with Pete in the morning which gave us a real insight into film making and then to win the Best Overall Film award for my film Bianco as well.  It has just been a brilliant day. ”

Pictured: Chris Stone, Pete Bebb and Charlotte McIntyre

Year 11 students Joe Bickley, Joe Porter and Vincenzo Sinaguglia from Endon High School won the Local High School Film Award.  Other winners included Jasper Khadjenouri who won best Experimental Film and Best Cinematography and Adam Pearson won Best Screenplay.

To view entries from the Heat Wave Film Festival visit www.youtube.com/NewcastleuLymeCol.

Visit our Facebook page to view images from the day: www.facebook.com/NewcastleULymeCol.

Students ‘Represent’ at award winning museum

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) have been invited to exhibit their work at the award winning Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.

Five talented students from the College’s National Diploma in Art and Design were invited to represent young local artists by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.  The Represent exhibition is organised by Stoke-on-Trent City Council to promote the creative talents of young people in Stoke-on-Trent and the surrounding areas. 

The NULC students will be accompanied by students from various schools and colleges across the county as part of the Represent exhibition which launched at the museum on Saturday 2 July.

Lorna Housley-Tatton, Curriculum Manager for Art and Creative studies says “The Represent exhibition is a brilliant platform for our students to have their work viewed by the residents of Stoke-on-Trent.  As a College we are always pleased to support local art projects and the students were delighted to be invited to take part in this particular project.”

The exhibition is free to attend and open to public from Saturday 2 July – Sunday 4 September 2011.

Pictured: Students Jason Garner and Jasmine Simpson with their work from the NULC Art Exhibtion.

Student creates artwork inspired by allotments

Newcastle-under-Lyme (NULC) student Francis Massey has created art work to celebrate Newcastle-under-Lyme's sucess in floral competitions.  Francis studies the Foundation degree in Contemporary Art Practice at NULC.

Read the full story from The Sentinel by clicking here.

Exhibition opens to hundreds of guests

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) launched their end-of-year Art Exhibition with a private view. The students were joined by VIP guests including the Mayor of Newcastle; Trevor Hambleton.

In addition to the private view of the art work guests were treated to a fashion show which featured the unique designs of students.  The evening also included a prize giving ceremony for students who worked on a regional breastfeeding campaign with the NHS.

Pictured: Rita Symons and Anita Cartlidge of the NHS with Lorna Housley-Tatton Curiulum Manager for Art & Creative studies at NULC and students who designed the Breastfeeding artwork.

Malcolm Crutchley Head of Faculty for Art and Creative Studies at the College said “We’ve had some brilliant feedback from everyone that attended the private view.  The students here at NULC exceed everyone’s expectations and are of a far higher caliber than many of their contemporaries.”

He continued “I urge anyone who has even a vague interest in art and design to come along and view the fantastic work on display at NULC.”

The exhibition is spread over 3 floors at the College’s new £60 million Knutton Lane campus and is open to the public until Saturday 25 June.  To view the opening times visit click here.

Film by Firewalker Production of the 2011 NULC Fashion Show.

For more details call 01782 254254, email info@nulc.ac.uk or visit www.nulc.ac.uk

In the spotlight with... Nicola Whitmore

Nicola Whitmore joined Newcastle-under-Lyme College two years ago to study a Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice.  Originally a nurse from Leicester, Nicola aged 37 moved to Staffordshire to retrain in the creative industries. 

Whilst at NULC Nicola has overcome many obstacles, being a mature student with dyslexia Nicola was daunted by the thought of starting education again but she says she has made the most of the support on offer from the College.  “With dyslexia all my lecturers have supported me throughout the course, I have received one-to-one tutorials and with the Learning Support Officer.”

At NULC students are encouraged to take part in live briefs, which is something Nicola has made the most of during her two years of study. “I painted a mural at Thisley Hough High School and had my work displayed at the Victoria Mill Art Centre.”

Nicola reflects on her time at NULC saying “I have really enjoyed my time at NULC, it has been brilliant to meet like minded people with the same ambition and determination as you.  The environment is more mature and having a dedicated University-Centre is brilliant.”

Nicola says she would recommend NULC to anyone looking to study a creative subject “I feel the support and commitment to the students is 100% and I have gained more confidence in what I want to achieve in life.”

Nicola now intends to launch her own Art Café named Sublime, which will provide an area for local artists and students to exhibit their work and relax in an informal atmosphere.

Nicola’s art work is on display at the NULC Art Exhibition until Saturday 25 June 2011.  To view the exhibition opening times click here.  

To find out more about the range of University-level courses at NULC visit www.nulc.ac.uk/he.

NULC holds annual art exhibition

Members of the public are being invited to visit a student art exhibition at Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC).

The annual end-of-year exhibition is being hosted at the College’s new £60 million campus on Knutton Lane.

The exhibition which runs from Saturday 18 June to Saturday 25 June, will open with a private view for VIP guests on Friday 17 June.

The annual event showcases the abilities of some of the most talented creative students in Staffordshire. A broad cross section of creative media such as fashion, film, painting, ceramics, graphic design, media, music technology, photography and textiles are represented, alongside art and design courses at all levels.

Guests at the private view will also have the opportunity to see a fashion show, which has been created, designed and produced by fashion students at NULC.

Malcolm Crutchley, Head of Faculty for Art and Creative Studies at NULC, said: “Newcastle-under-Lyme College has a national reputation for the quality of its art and design courses and this is clearly justified when you look at the brilliant work on display. I would strongly urge members of the public with an interest in art and design to come along and take a look.”

Exhibition opening times are as follows:

Saturday 18 June - 10am to 1pm

Sunday 19 June - closed

Monday 20 June - 10am to 8pm

Tuesday 21 June - 10am to 8pm

Wednesday 22 June - 10am to 8pm

Thursday 23 June - 10am to 8pm

Friday 24 June - 10am to 4pm

Saturday 25 June - 10am to 1pm

There will also be the opportunity for visitors to the College’s Open Day on Saturday 25 June to view the exhibition from 10am - 12noon.

Students 'pop up' their own shop

Newcastle-under-Lyme College (NULC) students this month set up a 'pop up shop' at a Cheshire art gallery.  Amy Ostrouchow and Kirstie Gleave who are studying the Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice set up the temporary shop named Riggi Designs and Kitty Makes Vintage Shop at the Victoria Mill Gallery in Congleton where they sold a range of handmade goods including jewellery, textile pieces for the interior and cards.

 To find out more about studying the Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice at NULC click here or email info@nulc.ac.uk.

NULC Students Hit The Catwalk

Students from Newcastle-under-Lyme College’s (NULC) Foundation degree (Fd) in Contemporary Art Practice are joining forces with some of the most famous names in fashion to raise money for charity.

Students Lauren Spragg and Amy Hill are busy preparing for the prestigious Variety Club’s Variety in Fashion Show, held at the luxurious De Vere Wychwood Park Hotel in Cheshire.  Lauren and Amy are organising and styling a 10 minute catwalk slot where they will be showcasing garments from a selection of past and present Contemporary Art Practice students.

The Variety in Fashion Show is in its third year and will see the latest collections in menswear and womensware, from top designers including Hugo Boss, Armani Jeans, Paul Smith and many more hit the catwalk.  The designer collections will sit alongside collections from local boutiques, couture garments and outfits designed and made by the talented NULC students.

After the glittering catwalk show, you will be able to indulge in a spot of shopping where you can purchase garments from the collections as well as fashion accessories and health and beauty products.

The event is organised by the Variety Club, a charity which raises money to improve the lives of children and young people in need of help.  The event will be taking place on Thursday 12 May at 7pm, tickets are priced at £15 each including a champagne reception and buffet.  To book tickets or to find out more about the event call 01782 213500.