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#ocagraduation2018 - The Open College of the Arts

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

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#ocagraduation2018

On a glorious June morning OCA students celebrated the culmination of their study at the Royal Festival Hall in London. 91 students graduated across Creative Arts, Painting, Photography, Visual Communications, Textiles, Creative Writing and our MA Fine Art. Those that could attend the ceremony were also invited to a special gathering specifically for OCA students and their guests.
We assembled in St Paul’s Pavillion on the top floor of the Royal Festival Hall overlooking London’s South Bank and the Thames. Bunting featuring student work waved across the room in a subtle celebratory dance and a digital presentation highlighted students’ creativity to an attentive audience of OCA tutors, staff and students.
Speeches were given by OCA Principal, Will Woods and OCA MA Fine Art Graduate, Emma Delpech. A theme of sustaining practice and to continue making echoed across the room, to well deserved applause and an inspired congregation.
A light afternoon tea was served and a photobooth offered a casual momento of the day. OCA Programme Leader for Music, Carla Rees, filled the room with music, playing an instrument most of us hadn’t heard of before, the contrabass flute. Resembling something H R Giger would have drawn, the instrument stood stoically in the centre of the room until Carla commanded its gentle tune, played to a silent room.
OCA now in its 30th year would like to extend our congratulations to all of our students who graduated and a special mention goes to Kimberley Unsworth, Ching Han Lui and Maccine Jordaan who passed away.
OCA offers foundations courses, 14* undergraduate degrees and an MA Fine Art which when launched in 2011, it was the first MA Fine Art in Europe to be offered by open learning.
•BA (Hons) Interior Design will be available from September 2018 and BA (Hons) Garden Design will be made available from 2019 subject to validation.


Posted by author: Joanne

3 thoughts on “#ocagraduation2018

  • Thank you for this account of the graduation ceremony. Congratulations to all those who took part. It’s a great achievement – the OCA’s 30th birthday, as well as the students who saw it through to the end. Josie

  • Emma Delpech’s speech about her experiences as an OCA student, how she juggled her studies with the rest of her life, and the positive impact her studies had on her and her family was inspirational. It made me feel proud to be working at OCA (and to well up a bit!). I’m sure all the other graduates had their own, equally impactful, stories to tell as well. So, congratulations to all the graduates, and a message to ‘keep at it’ for those still studying.

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