Centre for Advanced Practice

Develop and realise your creative language in art and design through a series of workshops and small projects. You will build a portfolio of work in 2D and 3D that will help you discover your personal style and interests.

Curious about contemporary approaches to experimental film?

This interdisciplinary course is designed for artists, filmmakers, and creatives eager to explore film beyond conventional boundaries. This course is an invitation to challenge conventional filmmaking by integrating elements from performance, theatre, puppetry, animation, installation and sound—encouraging you to rethink and expand your creative approach.

Led by an artist and filmmaker, alongside guest practitioners from various creative fields, this course fosters an environment for interdisciplinary exploration, encouraging new ways of thinking and making. Through hands-on workshops, discussions, and personal projects, you will gain both practical skills and conceptual insights to expand your creative practice.

Online tutorials will be held between terms

For learners experienced in a wide range of basketry techniques, this is a new course to build and develop your skills. You will be introduced to some new techniques and emphasis will be placed on self directed study and developing a personal portfolio of work. This course is suitable for those experienced in a wide range of basketry techniques and who have completed the City Lit basketry course or have equivalent skills.

This new two-year course provides you with the in-depth study required to develop a sustainable personal practice rooted in printmaking. Over the course, you will engage with a range of printmaking techniques and explore multiple ways in which an expanded printmaking practice connects to other processes and technologies, both contemporary and traditional. With the support of expert tutors, you will be guided through experimental, practice-based research and developmental tasks that challenge your preconceptions of a range of print media, including etching, screen-printing, lithography and relief. In the later part of the course, you will propose and complete a personal project, leading to the production of a body of finished work.

This advanced course for developing and practicing artists is about how to sustain a contemporary creative practice through work-based seminars facilitated by peers and artist-tutors, giving you the opportunity to develop and present your work for critical discourse. The course includes individual tutorials and mentoring, critical investigation via group crits, visits to galleries and artist-run organisations, collaborative work, discussion and debate.
The course will be delivered onsite.

This course requires an application prior to enrolment. Please click 'start assessment' to begin your application.

Contemporary Fine Art (CFA) is a two-year part-time, multidisciplinary fine art course based in Central London, offered as an alternative to a conventional undergraduate degree, at a fraction of the cost.

CFA is a studio-based, ideas-led course designed to support the development of an individual creative practice. Year 1 runs on Monday and Year 2 on Tuesday, October-June. Most students take year 1 and progress to year 2, but it is possible to enter year 2 directly or sit both courses concurrently where appropriate.

You will be part of a small cohort of dedicated students, taught by experienced and professional tutors who are also practicing artists. Basic materials are provided throughout the course, but it is likely that you will need to provide some additional materials, as your work develops and becomes specialised.

The Contemporary Fine Art course was previously known as City Lit Fine Art.

CFA Year 1

Year 1 consists of a sequence of tutor-led workshops in drawing, painting, sculpture, print, digital media and encourages group collaboration/discussion. It is designed to enhance studio skills, and support the development of contextual understanding and the identification of personal ideas and creative methods.

In support of the range of media practices the course introduces there are options to sit an additional 18 hours on a visual arts course of your choice within the department.* This enables each student to begin to focus on an area of personal specialism whether that be within painting, drawing, sculpture, print, digital media, etc.

CFA also provides the opportunity to engage with internationally established visiting artists (previous visitors have included Andrew Bick and Haffendi Anuar).

* Elective workshops and any external sessions will run on days other than those timetabled for CFA and will be subject to availability. 

Contemporary Fine Art (CFA) is a two-year part-time, multidisciplinary fine art course based in Central London, offered as an alternative to a conventional undergraduate degree, at a fraction of the cost.

CFA is a studio-based, ideas-led course designed to support the development of an individual creative practice. Year 2 runs on Tuesday, October-June. Most students progress from year 1, but it is possible to enter year 2 directly or sit both courses concurrently where appropriate.

You will be part of a small cohort of dedicated students taught by experienced and professional tutors who are also practicing artists. Basic materials are provided throughout the course, but it is likely that you will need to provide some additional materials, as your work develops and becomes specialised.

The Contemporary Fine Art course was previously known as City Lit Fine Art.

CFA Year 2

Year 2 begins with a series of creative research exercises leading to the self-directed development of a personal project, and the organisation of a group exhibition. This process is supported by various tutor/artists and supplemented by professional practice sessions, external opportunities and engagement with internationally established visiting artists (previous visitors have included Andrew Bick and Haffendi Anuar). There are opportunities to exhibit during the Year 2 course, and completing students receive City Lit certification.

To support the diverse range of practices that might develop, there are options to sit an additional 18 hours on a visual arts course of your choice, enabling each student to enhance or extend practice in a supporting specialism.

Students who have previously completed CFA have progressed to MA courses at the Royal College of Art, UAL and the City and Guilds School of Art, while others have established themselves as independent practitioners, joined studios or formed artist collectives.

Interested in a career in Children’s Book Illustration, or advancing your practice to the next level? With the guidance and support of your tutors, you will have the opportunity to engage with experienced industry professionals, and develop your practice and personal visual vocabulary to a professional standard.

Visitors on previous years have included:

• Davinia Andrew-Lynch, Curtis Browne Agency
• Helen Chapman, Art director Penguin Random House, Bloomsbury, Little Tiger Press, DK & Penguin
• Rebecca Garrill Art Director Andersen Press
• Margaret Hope, art director MacMillan Books
• Anne McNeill, Editorial director Random House and Penguin books
• Rachel Petty, former editorial director Macmillan Children's Books, currently author/illustrator agent at the Blair Partnership
• Arabella Stein, Managing Director, Bright Agency
• Millie Van Grutten RCW Literary Agency