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School of Visual Arts

Centre for Advanced Practice

City Lit’s Centre for Advanced Practice is where you can find advanced courses from across all subject areas in Visual Arts. In many cases, this means well established courses of a year or longer, with outstanding reputations for preparing students for study at Bachelors or Masters level. Equally, their quality and depth makes them a viable alternative, for many learners, to the conventional Higher Education route into careers as creative practitioners.

To continue to support learners from a range of backgrounds, with diverse requirements, we have several newly developed courses – with more appearing soon – that build on our long-standing fine art and contemporary craft provision, and bring traditional practices up to date, to ensure learners have the relevant skills for the contemporary creative industries. This is supported through increasing connections with external organisations and practitioners in many courses, for example through real-world project briefs, public exhibitions, and visits from industry professionals.

In the last couple of years, we have introduced new titles in contemporary media and communications-based creative practices, and new courses running across a range of patterns and modes (weekly, monthly, studio-based, online or blended), to ensure that our advanced provision remains accessible and manageable alongside learners’ existing commitments. Alongside these developments, we are progressively refreshing many of our well-established courses, with an increased emphasis on critical discourse, and contemporary cultural debate, in keeping with the advanced level of study and focus on increased confidence, independence and professionalism that are the common characteristics of all our advanced courses.

In addition to our expanding range of advanced long courses, a growing range of advanced one-day workshops is available, aimed at providing knowledge and insight required to support specific aspects of professional practice. These can be taken individually, according to need or interest, or as complementary components of your own pick-and-mix modular course. In common with our long courses, these will provide you with the skills, knowledge and confidence you need to take your advanced creative practice forward.

We host exhibitions throughout the year at City Lit Gallery where our students showcase their amazing work.

Courses available both in-person and online

We offer a range of long and short courses allowing you to choose between in-person and online learning.

Learn in the centre of London with our in-person courses. Our purpose-built facilities in Covent Garden mean we are ideally located and easy to get to. 

See our guide to online learning for more information about accessing our live online courses.

All our courses are live, interactive, and taught by expert tutors. No matter how you prefer to learn, we've got the class for you.

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  1. City Lit Advanced textile art course
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 24 Sep 2022 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Lara Hailey, Rosie James
    Take your textiles to another level with this stimulating two year advanced course. Open up new perspectives for your work as you explore a range of technical and visual research methods in response to a theme. These will include approaches to drawing, contextual studies, mixed media, dye and print, stitch and constructed textiles. You will be guided and supported throughout by regular tutorials and workshops that stretch your individual textile practice. The course will culminate in a public exhibition at the end of year two.
    Full fee £2,699.00 Senior fee £2,159.00 Concession £1,889.00
  2. City Lit pre-foundation course
    Course start date:  Wed 17 Apr 2024 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This exciting and intensive course is a chance to develop key creative skills, methods and thinking in art and design, across 2D, 3D, life drawing and critical studies, to prepare you for entry to our UAL-validated, Level 3 Foundation Diploma in Art & Design.



    Please note, this course starts on a Wednesday and continues for a further 10 Tuesdays and Wednesdays thereafter. There is a break week during the course (details to be confirned by the course leader).
    Full fee £799.00 Senior fee £639.00 Concession £559.00
  3. Advanced painting: practice and discourse
    Course start date:  Mon 2 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Clare Barton-Harvey, Stuart Jones, Amanda Knight, Mario Lautier Vella, Kim Scouller, Benjamin Senior
    Develop your painting in greater depth on this advanced course, working with a team of artist-tutors and a committed network of peer-practitioners, across a set of projects focusing on a range of contemporary themes, processes, and debates. The course is intended for experienced painters with a positive and enquiring attitude to the practices and discourses of painting in its various forms, and a commitment to peer-dialogue and critical discussion. Focused and intensive studio-based weekend projects (once per month), are interspersed with weekly online tutorials, feedback, discussion and seminars.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,299.00 Senior fee £1,839.00 Concession £1,609.00
  4. Developing art practice
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 7 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    This advanced course for developing and practicing artists consists of 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 and discussion and debate. This course is one of the eligible programmes for application to Bloomberg New Contemporaries.



    The course will be delivered onsite.











    This course requires an application prior to enrolment. Please click 'start assessment' to begin your application.
    Full fee £1,119.00 Senior fee £895.00 Concession £783.00
  5. City Lit fine art: year 1
    Course start date:  Tue 17 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Year 1 of the City Lit Fine Art course will enable you to refine and build upon your previous experience in Fine Art by exploring approaches to drawing, painting, sculpture, print, digital media and contextual studies, across a series of structured projects in studio and online sessions. As part of a small cohort of like-minded students you will be taught by experienced tutors who are also practicing artists in a range different media.



    The course will enable you to develop an overview of media processes relevant to current art practice, introduce ideas and debate relevant to contemporary art, and help you identify your own personal creative responses. Group discussions and tutorials will support the development of your thinking and help you adopt an independent and open-minded approach to your own work. This course can be taken for personal creative development, to prepare you for application to undergraduate or postgraduate Fine Art courses, or to serve as an alternative to the conventional degree route.



    Some basic materials will be provided, and you will need to supplement these with specific items; a list is provided in the CLFA course handbook. 10am – 12pm online Zoom sessions on alternate Mondays (15 in total)



    10am – 5pm in City Lit studios. On alternate Tuesdays (16 in total)



    6pm – 9pm in City Lit digital media suite. On 4 or 5 alternate Tuesday evenings per term (12 in total).



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,179.00 Senior fee £1,743.00 Concession £1,525.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  6. Contemporary practice: personal project
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    This advanced course in contemporary creative practice will support you in developing a personal project through research, experimentation, development and exhibition in a supportive studio environment. The course is facilitated by practising artists, theorists and curators.







    This course requires an application prior to enrolment. Please contact Visual Arts for more information.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,179.00 Senior fee £1,743.00 Concession £1,525.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  7. Advanced children's book illustration: professional practice
    Course start date:  Tue 10 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Tim Ellis, Zehra Hicks, Dee Shulman
    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.







    Confirmed visitors/speakers include:



    - Rachel Petty, author/illustrator agent at the Blair Partnership, former editorial director Macmillan Children's Books,



    - Margaret Hope, art director, Welbeck Publishing Group



    - Arabella Stein, Managing Director, Bright Agency.
    Full fee £2,449.00 Senior fee £1,959.00 Concession £1,714.00
    Rating:
    100% of 100
  8. City Lit fine art: year 2
    Course start date:  Mon 9 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Year 2 of the City Lit Fine Art course enables you to consolidate and focus the various experiences and ideas you will have gained in year 1. (Direct entry to year 2 is also possible, via interview, if you have an appropriate level of prior experience.) You will adopt simple research methods to reflect upon, identify and develop a personal creative project on a more individual, self-motivated route. This will result in the development of a cohesive body of new work that reflects your own interests. You will have group critiques, one-to-one tutorials and all day studio production sessions that allow you to explore and refine your creative skills, and seminars and presentations in which you will engage with new ideas and contexts; all delivered by experienced, practicing artists. Some basic materials are included.



    You will have the opportunity to help organise and present some of your recent work in a group exhibition, via negotiation and with the support of your tutors. 2 – 4pm online Zoom sessions on alternate Mondays (15 in total)



    10am – 5pm in City Lit studios. On alternate Tuesdays (16 in total)



    6pm – 9pm in City Lit digital media suite. On 4 or 5 alternate Tuesday evenings per term (12 in total.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £2,179.00 Senior fee £1,743.00 Concession £1,525.00
  9. Extended drawing for artists and makers
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 11 Oct 2023 (and 3 other dates)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Annie Attridge, Clare Barton-Harvey, Ruth Brison, Tony Hull, Claire Hynds, Monika Kita, Ute Kreyman, Mario Lautier Vella, Faith Vincent, susan kenton
    A multi-disciplinary course that will help broaden your skills and experience. Record, imagine, visualise, transform, narrate and develop through a series of practical projects. This exciting course is designed to help you place drawing at the centre of your chosen artistic discipline.



    This course requires a pre-enrolment application. Please click 'Start Assessment' on the right hand side of this page to start your application. EDAM Handbook







    EDAM Archive.
    Full fee £1,359.00 Senior fee £1,087.00 Concession £951.00
    Rating:
    93% of 100
  10. Advanced printmaking: practice and discourse
    Evening
    Course start date:  Sat 7 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    Tutors:  Ina Baumeister, Rolina Elsje Blok, Thomas Gosebruch, David Holah, Claire Hynds
    This year-long advanced course is aimed at artist-printmakers who wish to develop a sustainable personal practice through the medium of print. With the support of expert tutors, you will be guided through experimental, practice-based research and developmental tasks that challenge your preconceptions of print media including etching, screen-printing, lithography and relief. You will eventually focus on a longer projects that encourage both a personal enquiry and the development of an individual methodology. The course involves theoretical, contextual and practical components. Student testimony:



    “This course has been absolutely brilliant! It’s not only taught me printmaking methods but also about the artistic process. I’ve learnt so much, it’s really been very transformative!” El Morrison (2023)



    “The course has pushed my boundaries. It has encouraged me to try new things within print and to think about the context and concepts I am trying to deliver” Declan Hoare (2023)



    “I thoroughly enjoyed the course. I met many wonderful talented artists. It has made me think about my own practice; how can I change it, modify it, make it more exciting. The tutors are absolutely amazing! They are full of knowledge, encouragement, and support. It was a great, great experience.” Areej Abdi (2023).



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £1,849.00 Senior fee £1,479.00 Concession £1,294.00
  11. Advanced printmaking: experimentation and development
    Evening
    Course start date:  Thu 12 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Blended (learn both online and in-person)

    This year-long advanced course is aimed at artists who wish to expand their print-based practice through exploring the integration of printmaking with a range of other media and processes. It includes: individual and collaborative practice; the creation of a body of work in a range of print- and print-related media; the production of a print publication, and a public exhibition of work. As you acquire advanced skills you will be encouraged to explore your own ideas and themes developing a sustainable art practice that is both meaningful to you and relevant to the contemporary art world.



    This course will be delivered online and in person. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £1,849.00 Senior fee £1,479.00 Concession £1,294.00
  12. Advanced figure and portrait
    Course start date:  Fri 13 Oct 2023 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Paul Dixon, Desmond Haughton, Brian Sayers, Kim Scouller, Benjamin Senior, Andrea Voisey
    The human form offers inexhaustible potential for communication and expression of ideas; this is an exciting advanced course for those with experience of working with the figure and/or portrait who would like the challenge of exploring new perspectives on the figurative tradition in drawing, painting and mixed media.
    Full fee £2,499.00 Senior fee £1,999.00 Concession £1,749.00
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