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sustaining practice Blog Posts- Page 11 of 22 - The Open College of the Arts

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sustaining practice


CLIMA(C)TIC thumb

CLIMA(C)TIC

In bricks and mortar universities students aren’t required to fully organise their own exhibition and I was envious of this at one stage. Having come out the other side I see how this experience has benefited me: knowledge, confidence and an extended network of contacts for the future. As the Arts Development Officer at the council said “We know about you now…” – opportunities will arise.

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How to make research writing easier! thumb

How to make research writing easier!

A Win-Win situation: citation software… What would you say if you were offered less work, better-focused research, easier and quicker writing, better accuracy of citations and bibliography and everything as neatly organised as a series of music playlists? Okay, who wouldn’t say yes? However, this is a post about one of the most boring topics […]

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Student work: Rachel Metcalfe thumb

Student work: Rachel Metcalfe

The nerves and excitement I expected to feel as the exhibition approached were not as I predicted. I was constantly holding my breath, selfishly hoping I wouldn’t need to self-isolate or be placed in a local lockdown before the hanging day. Nerves with regards to the actual exhibition layout or success, seemed insignificant in comparison. Fortunately, hanging day arrived without any hiccups and passed calmly. 

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Student stories: Jonathan Lamb & David Fletcher thumb

Student stories: Jonathan Lamb & David Fletcher

Two OCA students had the chance to take part in a course with photographer Mimi Mollica at his farmhouse in Sicily recently.  The week started with portfolio reviews with Mimi and Martin Parr.

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Student stories: Anne Bryson, Photography thumb

Student stories: Anne Bryson, Photography

In this post we celebrate the learning journey of photographer and OCA student, Anne Bryson. Earlier this year, Anne exited the Photography degree at the end of level 2 with the award Diploma in Higher Education (DipHE). After a short study break she decided to take the short course, Investigating Place with Psychogeography and used this to further extend a project exploring the coal mines in the Forest of Dean. She caught up with programme leader Dan Robinson.

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OCA news: New Level 3 (HE6) music courses launched thumb

OCA news: New Level 3 (HE6) music courses launched

For the last few months, the music team have been working hard in the creation of the first two Level 3 courses, which are now ready for enrolment.

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Student work: Dawn Broughton thumb

Student work: Dawn Broughton

Galleries are full of the young and unblemished and older people have been relegated to the crone or grandmother status for women and scholars and prophets for the men (simplified I know) but so few, ordinary older people are painted in a direct and straightforward way without the need to make them seem vulnerable or sad. 

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Printmaking studios at home thumb

Printmaking studios at home

During covid lockdown I’ve been so grateful I have a studio space at home. I was reflecting how my OCA students use their homes as studios. I asked a number of printmaking students to reflect and share how they made printmaking spaces within their homes.

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OCA news: New course – Painting 2: Exploring Media thumb

OCA news: New course – Painting 2: Exploring Media

Exploring Media is the long-awaited new stage two painting course for all students on the painting pathway. The majority of the course was developed by lead author Hayley Lock, but this course is unique in that it was also shaped by current stage two students through our bi-monthly studio meetings last year. 

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Writing in 2020: Multimodal writing and the pandemic thumb

Writing in 2020: Multimodal writing and the pandemic

I wonder how much the coronavirus pandemic has affected our writing and our reading; and equally our learning and teaching. Of course as OCA Creative Writers (tutors and students) we are used to the idea of distance and absence of contact.

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