OCA preloader logo
Creative Arts Blog Posts - Page 5 of 28 - The Open College of the Arts

To find out more details about the transfer to The Open University see A New Chapter for OCA.

#WeAreOCA

The Open College of the Arts' blog

Browsing Category:

Creative Arts


OCA wellbeing: Pets thumb

OCA wellbeing: Pets

I have settled reasonably well into life in lockdown and I think it’s largely to do with my furry companion. I’ve kept my normal routine of getting up and walking to work, which currently means taking Enzo out and looping back home to log on.

Read More
OCA wellbeing: Photography thumb

OCA wellbeing: Photography

I’d started up an Instagram account a while back, but I’d fallen into posting very sporadically, going months without and not making much of a contribution. So I decided to try out the whole ‘post an image a day’ and use some hashtags to get the message out that although we were in lockdown, we were still here.

Read More
OCA new course: Material and Making: Approaches to Sculpture thumb

OCA new course: Material and Making: Approaches to Sculpture

This new foundation course introduces various key methods for material investigation, through approaches to making that challenge students to navigate, explore and respond to their three-dimensional environment. We encounter a vast range of materials and objects in our daily lives and this course enables students to exploit the materiality around them in creative ways, forming transferable skills for further study in different areas, primarily Creative Arts and Fine Art pathways. 

Read More
OCA wellbeing: Volunteering thumb

OCA wellbeing: Volunteering

When I drop shopping off some people like to have a distant chat, just general stuff about the weather and how they are coping, while others are very regimented and want their shopping leaving at the end of the drive and they come and collect, everyone is dealing with this pandemic in their own way and has to do what they feel is right, I completely respect that.

Read More
OCA Wellbeing: A trip to the bibliotherapist thumb

OCA Wellbeing: A trip to the bibliotherapist

Imagine going to the doctor’s and coming out with a prescription – for a good book. It’s really not as daft as it may sound. And what’s more, the notion that our mental wellbeing can be improved by something other than pills is far from new.

Read More
OCA wellbeing: Running thumb

OCA wellbeing: Running

I realise I am very fortunate to be in my running group.  It has opened my eyes to all the virtual experiences that people can now engage with.  Lockdown has resulted in the creation of so many activities to connect people – virtual running competitions, online courses, online counselling – the list goes on.  Being removed from family and friends is difficult, but having a great group of people online has kept me going.  I can’t wait until we can run together again.

Read More
OCA wellbeing: Gardening for mental health thumb

OCA wellbeing: Gardening for mental health

Lockdown in mid-March prompted two responses. First was a recognition that getting outside for parts of the day without bumping into other humans would become a very valuable thing. Second, I had some new time, that used to be spent travelling and trolling the train companies about their poor service, and I could put this to good use by sorting out my embarrassing back garden.

Read More
Student stories: My quarantine diary thumb

Student stories: My quarantine diary

My name is Victoria, I’m 20 years old and currently studying Creative Arts at OCA. A few weeks ago I realised this scenario in which we are living right now is definitely going to be a mark in the history of our generation. That said, I figured it would be relevant to start registering my quarantine days here in Brazil, as a way to preserve my experiences and memories.

Read More