City Lit ceramics diploma: two-year course

Course Dates: 14/09/23 - 20/06/25
Time: 09:30 - 18:00
Location: Keeley Street
Tutors: 
Carina Ciscato, Chantal Condron, Brigit Connolly, Robert Cooper, Jim Gladwin, Sara Radstone, Alex Simpson, Annie Turner, Kate Wickham
The Ceramics diploma course is designed for people with previous experience in ceramics or other art related practice. This advanced ceramics course encourages your creative development through a sustained practice-based programme of in-depth ceramic study that covers the artistic, technical, theoretical, and historical contexts of ceramics. For your final exhibition you will have the opportunity to exhibit at an external venue and at the New Designers show at the Business Design Centre in Islington.

Once you have submitted an application for the course, your suitability for the course will be assessed by interview. You will need to bring a portfolio of 2D and 3D/clay work alongside your sketchbooks. During the interview you will be asked to write a short paragraph to demonstrate your writing skills and to show your understanding of the use of numbers. Interviews for this course will take place on dates to be confirmed.

NOTE: Course dates are: 14/09/23 - 11/07/25, Thursday and Friday 9.30am – 6.00pm, 36 weeks per year. The course fee indicated on this page covers both years of the course. Payment plans will be available, details of which are to be confirmed. Please note, advertised fees and course dates may be subject to change.
Download
Book your place
Out of stock
SKU
207008
Full fee £9,749.00 Senior fee £9,749.00 Concession £6,824.00
Choose a start date

Sorry, this date is now full

City Lit ceramics diploma: two-year course
This course is full Select another course date
  • Course Code: VR712
  • Dates: 14/09/23 - 20/06/25
  • Time: 09:30 - 18:00
  • Taught: Thu-Fri, Daytime
  • Duration: 144 sessions (over 21 months)
  • Location: Keeley Street
  • Tutor: Carina Ciscato, Chantal Condron, Brigit Connolly, Robert Cooper, Jim Gladwin, Sara Radstone, Alex Simpson, Annie Turner, Kate Wickham

Course Code: VR712

Please choose another course date

Full Thu-Fri, day, 14 Sep - 20 Jun '25

Duration: 144 sessions (over 21 months)

Call us to check your level, see if you can still join the course or to discuss other suitable courses

Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.

What is the course about?

This course is a two-year intensive programme of ceramics study over two days a week and leads to a City Lit diploma in ceramics. Students benefit from regular and frequent studio-based tutorials with highly experienced, widely respected ceramic artist practitioners and tutors. A combination of practical techniques and ideas are taught, explored and developed throughout the course. An ongoing program of ceramic/glaze technology, art history and ceramics contextual studies units are taught during both years to complement studio practice and develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between theory, process and practice.

What will we cover?

Year 1
The first year is project-based. The progressive range of projects is designed to introduce you to the potential of ceramics, its technical processes and richness as a means of expression and to foster the development of your ideas and creative language. You’ll learn and develop your skills at throwing, hand building, mould making, slip casting, press moulding, surface decoration and printing techniques, glaze making and development. Each project will cover a technique within the context of your personal ideas and guide you towards an area of investigation.
Year 2
The second year is more self-directed. With ongoing practical, technical and conceptual tutorial support you’ll be working towards your final exhibition and developing your ceramic practice. You will follow a programme of study drafted by each student in close consultation with the teaching staff through which your personal ideas will be fully developed. The glaze technology, art history and contextual studies programmes continue to complement individual studio practice in year two.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Become an independent maker within the field of contemporary ceramic practice.
- Understand how your work fits into a broad context of the ceramic medium.
- Define and work confidently in the area you have chosen to specialise
- Be technically competent and use appropriate technical skills to realise your personal ideas.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

The Ceramics diploma is a high level course, for students who want to train professionally in the field of contemporary ceramics. Prior experience of ceramics or related art practice is essential and we welcome applications from students capable of reaching the standard required for the diploma. You should be able to follow written and verbal instructions, demonstrations, hand-outs and health and safety information, and will be expected to take part in group discussions. You should be able to use numbers and be able to do measurements and calculations. Studio projects are assessed at the end of each semester and feedback is given. There are also assessed essays as part of this course, ranging from 750 – 5000 words. Each essay must be submitted digitally through google classroom (full induction will be given).

Please look at the rest of the course outline carefully to decide whether you may benefit from support in your English and maths skills to help you to take part fully in this course. There are reading lists supplied for each unit of the course and your tutors will be able to advise you of other readings to support your learning.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

Lectures, demonstrations, seminars, one to one tutorials, group tutorials, practical empirical glaze testing sessions, slide lectures, power point presentations and gallery visits. There will be some homework set on this course.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Most materials are covered by the course fee, but you will need your own tool kit, mask and overalls. This will be discussed with you at the start of the course. You may at times also want to supply your own specialist materials, if not supplied by the department.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Some students choose to pursue further study at BA/MA level within the ceramics field. Many students set up as professional independent ceramic makers on completing the course.

Carina Ciscato See more See less
Chantal Condron See more See less
Brigit Connolly See more See less
Robert Cooper See more See less
Alex Simpson Tutor Website See more See less
Annie Turner See more See less

Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.