The City Lit Fine Art (CLFA) course is a 1, 2 or 3-year part-time programme that offers an alternative to traditional HE study in the Centre of London. On CLFA you will experience and engage with contemporary fine art practice by exploring a range of studio-based processes, creative methods, ideas and contexts, and learn how to develop a self-motivated and independent artistic practice.
You can apply to enter year 1 and progress though the course, or enter year 2 or year 3 directly, depending on previous experience.
The course offers interdisciplinary learning for applicants who have a strong portfolio of artwork and are committed to developing their skills and understanding of contemporary fine art practice. The CLFA course will enable students to build on previous artistic experience in any media and learn new methods, respond to new ideas, increase professional skills, and develop their creativity towards becoming an artist practitioner.
Created and taught by artists
The CLFA course is developed and taught by practicing and exhibiting artists and curators whose expertise spans sculpture, drawing and painting, to moving image, digital media, print, installation, professional practice and contextual theory.
These different artists share their expertise with students in workshops, seminars and tutorials and external events that support the development of studio-based skills, contextual and professional understanding, and individual creative directions.
CLFA is ideal for applicants that have some previous experience in fine art, perhaps having sat a series of short courses, or even a BA, and who want to consolidate their learning and progress to an advanced level of understanding and creativity.
Modes of study
The CLFA course runs for one day a week between October to July in large art studios on Covent Garden. Basic art materials are supplied.
Year 1 runs all day every Monday, Year 2 every Tuesday and Year 3 on Saturdays and Sundays. Personal study outside of these timetabled days is encouraged throughout.
These 3 consecutive years of CLFA are designed to support the accumulation of learning, but each year can also function as a stand-alone course that you can apply to enter directly according to your experience, artistic development, and intentions.
Year 1. Studio skills and understanding
Starting in October: City Lit fine art course: year 1 (daytime)
The first year of the CLFA course introduces various approaches to drawing, painting, sculpture, print, moving image and collaborative practice through tutor-led studio activities. Students are encouraged to explore interrelationships between these studio processes and to consider how combining different media can reveal new creative possibilities. Studio-based creative exercises will be experimental and challenging, and are supported by some contextual study and introductory debates around contemporary art practice. Seminars, relevant texts, group discussions, one-to-one tutorials and gallery visits will support all aspects of creative development.
Year 2. Personal creative project
Starting in October: City Lit fine art course: year 2 daytime
Year 2 of the CLFA course emphasises self-motivated activity and students will build upon their learning in year 1 (or equivalent experience) to identify and develop a personal project/body of work that can incorporate a range of creative methods and media processes. Tutorials, group dialogue and engagement with contemporary art exhibitions and supporting texts will help students contextualise their artwork and articulate an understanding of intention and context. Simple creative research methods and self-reflection will enable students to take ownership of their creative direction and ultimately develop self-motivated artworks that are ready for an end of year public exhibition in the City Lit Gallery in Central London. This second year can be used to support applications to higher education, or students can opt to study a third year which will support the focussed development of an independent and sustainable creative practice.
Year 3. Sustainable creative practice
Starting in October: City Lit fine art course: year 3
In year 3 students will refine and advance their personal creative direction by taking a more external focus; perhaps in support of an application to study at post-graduate level, preparation for an external exhibition, or to develop a focussed body of new artwork for a research-driven project. With an emphasis on group activity and regular points of engagement with CLFA staff, year 3 students will be able to reflect on their creative intentions, negotiate their needs, refine their studio skills, ideas, and research methods, and ultimately maximise the development of a personal artistic practice that can be sustained beyond the duration of the course. A shifting emphasis on aspects of professional practice – such making an application for arts funding, organising an exhibition, collaborative practice, raising ones profile, or finding an artist residency – can be offered in response to the different combinations of interests and requirements that each third-year cohort brings.
Summary
The City Lit Fine Art course is a part-time programme of 1, 2 or 3 years on which you will engage with a range of creative processes and ideas that support self-motivated study in contemporary fine art practice. CLFA is taught by practicing artists and will enable students to develop and articulate a personal creative practice that can support options for post graduate study or a wide range of independent artistic activities.
Additional options
CLFA (City Lit Fine Arts) is a part of the Advanced Art Practice area in the School of Visual Arts at the City Lit.
We have many short courses in Advanced Art Practice giving you additional options in contemporary art theory and practice. You can study these alongside the CLFA course to support or extend your particular areas of interest.
Join us
The City Lit Fine Art course is created and taught by practicing and exhibiting artists whose expertise spans sculpture, drawing and painting to moving image, digital media, print, photography, installation and contextual theory.
The course offers challenging, interdisciplinary, and supportive learning for students who are committed to developing their existing skills and understanding of contemporary fine art practice.