Foundation Course Structure
The course starts with set projects working in fine art and design in two and three dimensions. This allows students to get a sense of which discipline they are best suited to. They can then work more intensively in the area of their choice through a series of personal projects, where individual ideas are developed alongside an understanding of their chosen medium. Life drawing and painting are undertaken on a regular basis and considered an important aspect of the course.
There are facilities for printmaking, jewellery, visual communication, textiles and sculpture as well as for disciplines using traditional materials. The School has a MAC computer suite for computer aided design.
There are two student exhibitions throughout the year. The first term ends with an exhibition where a wide selection of work is shown and the third term culminates in a major show, where students have an opportunity to present a finished body of work.
Core hours are Monday to Thursday 9.30am – 4.30pm and there are set projects to complete outwith the School on Fridays. Students are examined by continual assessment.
The course links contemporary art and the history of art to studio practice. In addition, students have the opportunity to work from the extensive collections in the four National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland. Tutorial groups and seminars are held regularly to discuss work and exchange ideas. Essays are set in the first and second term to enable students to develop a critical analysis of their own work as well as that of others.
