15 July – 12 September 2021
This is whole college exhibition to celebrate the work of students and staff of ArtyBird Carnforth. It includes all of our students those starting, continuing and finishing. The work has been produced by students who attend our classes and those who join us online from all around the world. We are delighted to be able to share it with you.
Foundation: The Foundation programme starts at the beginning of your chosen craft. All the fundamental areas will be taught alongside design, knowing how to apply colour shape, line, and texture to your textile subject, allowing you to make individual work. We assume no previous knowledge, but many participants come having taken part in workshops, enthusiastic to learn more. A third of the programme will be design, and a third sampling to develop techniques and explore your materials and tools, reflecting your design knowledge. The final third is spent in making two items, one that is a practical item, and the other a hanging or picture decoration. These will grow out of your design and sample work. This programme runs for a year and gives you a comprehensive foundation to the craft area you have selected to study. It establishes the building blocks of design and making, whilst guiding you through the two approaches of form and function in you developing and creating craft items. All our pathways are offered at Foundation level: Felt, Dyeing and Printing, Creative Textiles, Creative Computing, Creative Dressmaking, Weaving and Tapestry Weaving.
Intermediate: You’ll embark on the two-year intermediate programme after successfully completing the foundation or equivalent programme in your craft area. It is for someone who knows that they wish to deepen their knowledge and understanding, with a view to making strong individual work of their own. You will study the design concepts of colour, shape, line, texture, and form in depth through art, media, and craft sampling. We will look closely at the work of other makers to understand how they use the materials, tools, and processes of your craft to deliver the design concepts. You will be guided to develop your own work, making four items based on a personal response, exploring craft media, making to commission and the contextual piece that comes from research into current makers. These will naturally evolve from the programme, based on your design and sampling work.
Advanced: The two-year advanced programme develops you into a maker with a strong individual voice. A designer’s samples folio is created from your selected theme to discover what you want to say about that theme. This will take a third of your time. You will progress to resolving designs and techniques, finding your unique voice. From these you will develop a final piece, or series of pieces, which will be made and presented to the highest of professionalism. Each month you will be asked questions to support your research into other craft makers, helping you to understand your own uniqueness in your craft area.
Established in 2007, ArtyBird Carnforth is a recognised Centre for Excellence in the delivery of Creative Textile & Art education.
“We champion self belief to take artistry beyond the possible.”
It is the fusion of strong design and craft skills that creates individual makers, and we invite you to work within a dedicated, well equipped teaching centre led by knowledgeable and inspiring tutors.
Come and be part of a community of textile artists, which is flexible to individual needs.
Quotes from some of their Students…
“Although I had done a couple of wet felting workshops previously, I realise how little I knew.”
“As excellent as always – try keeping me away!”
“This course has opened up a whole new side of creativeness for me. It MORE than exceeded my expectations as I had no idea what to expect.”
“The course has been delivered excellently. The teachers are of the highest standard. It is difficult to say if there could be an improvement.”
“It’s been a fabulous course; I’ve learned heaps and gained confidence and self-belief.”
“Wonderful atmosphere, lovely relaxed. The knowledge of the teachers is exceptional.”
“Really enjoyed every day spent here – education, new skills, discussion, information, mixing with talented people, sharing knowledge and ideas. Thanks!”
— Quotes from our participants. taken from Participant Survey 2018-2019
