The Drawing Year

The Postgraduate Programme is a unique one- or two-year programme of study to allow students to concentrate on drawing, as an end in itself or in relation to other areas of practice. The course lasts one academic year, with the possibility of an optional extension to two years. It offer students the opportunity to explore a wide range of drawing practice.

Fundamental to the course is the assertion of the connection between looking and making images; a belief that genuine conceptual innovation can only be generated by an active engagement with the visual world that surrounds us. Drawing connects what we see with how we think. It is a crucial mediation between the world and our idea of it. It is a way to think, to explore and make shape of the world; one of the most important tools that we have. The point about drawing is its simplicity and its directness. More flexible than language, drawing has the power to express thought in a new way, to communicate with an economy of means. Drawing can be inventive, incisive, precise, surprising, funny and supremely direct. Drawings can show the freedom and individuality of handwriting. Using the most limited of means, drawing can provide one of the most demanding challenges and opportunities for growth to the contemporary artist; visually and intellectually. It is both one of the most simple and the most endlessly complex of human activities. The hand made mark is an ancient form of communication and yet remains one of the most important and innovative means that we have.

Course Structure

The Drawing Year runs for a full academic year, and consists of three ten week terms. Students commit to a minimum of two days a week attendance at classes and all students are expected to attend the student forum and lecture on Wednesday. The wide range of classes on offer include; drawing in the city, drawing the large inside space, drawing the model in motion and in sustained observation, drawing in galleries and museums. Life models are available at the school to draw in the two drawing studios every day of the week and on most evenings. There are also etching facilities and one to one tuition available. There is an experienced and distinguished body of tutors and visiting lecturers who have worked at the Royal Academy, the Royal College of Art, Camberwell, The Slade, Chelsea and Glasgow School of Art. All are practicing artists.

The student forum on Wednesdays provides an opportunity to meet for theoretical discussion and debate on aspects of drawing in historical and contemporary contexts. Themes have included Caricature, Cartography and map making, Outsider art, Drawing in animation, film and new media, as well as discussions of current exhibitions. Students give presentations of their own research. There is a varied programme of seminars and evening talks by visiting lecturers that follows the forum. Recent speakers have included Deanna Petherbridge, Posey Simmonds and Richard Billingham.

Individual studio practice is an integral part of the course and studios have been provided at the Tea Building on Shoreditch High Street. These studios are purpose built, with natural light, and are accessible seven days a week, twenty four hours a day throughout the year, including holiday periods.

Assessment and Prizes

Students are assigned a personal tutor and have two individual tutorials each term. They can also have tutorials with other tutors or visiting lecturers at their own request. There is a review of work for all students at the end of each term. A prize of £1000 is awarded to the student who has achieved most over the period.

At the end of the year there is an exhibition of work in the school’s gallery space on Charlotte Road. Diplomas are awarded on successful completion of the year, these are assessed by an independent board of chaired by Andrea Rose, Director of Visual Arts at the British Council. Prizes of £1000, £500 and £500 worth of art materials are awarded for work exhibited at the end of year show.

Other Opportunities and Resources

There is a variety of short courses and specialised workshops on offer during the holidays. There is also the chance to go on tutor-led European city trips to visit museums and galleries, for example to Vienna or Madrid. Each summer a group of students spend a fortnight together with art students from New York at a summer school based at Chateau de Balleroy in Normandy.

Students have free access to all exhibitions at the Royal Academy for the duration of their course. They can also draw at the famous life room at the Royal Academy one evening a week. There is unique private access to the collection of Old Master drawings at Chatsworth and to the Royal Collection at Windsor.

There is a library at the school. Students also have free membership of the Central slide Library at Birkbeck, the premier slide collection in the UK.

Professional Practice

Advice and talks on aspects of professional practice is available from visting artists, curators, gallery owners and commercial art dealers during the year. Competitions and residency opportunities are promoted through the school and advice is given on establishing a studio and applying for funding on leaving the school. There are also opportunities for students and alumni to gain invaluable teaching experience through our public outreach programme, teaching in schools, businesses and at our Saturday and holiday schools.

End of Year Exhibition

The culmination of the year is the end of year exhibition, held in the gallery space at the school building on Charlotte Road. The exhibition is held in October and is open to the public for a month.

Applications

The course can be pursued full or part time at postgraduate level. Applicants will usually have completed a BA (Hons) Degree in Fine Art or a related subject, but this is not essential; relevant experience or qualifications will be taken into account. Assessment will be based on the quality of the work shown and at interview. Prospective students must submit a completed application form, which includes a written statement and a portfolio of ten drawings showing a range of drawing interest (drawings other than life drawings are encouraged). Sketchbooks are also welcomed, to a maximum of three, and up to ten slides of other work in any medium. A handling fee of £20 is also required. Application forms are available from the school. Call the School’s office on 0207 613 8527 or downloaded here. The course prospectus can also be downloaded here.

Interviews

Short-listed applicants will be asked to an interview, to which they can bring further examples of their work and any supporting material. They will be asked to speak about their work, and the role of drawing in their practice. They will also be asked about the way they see the Drawing Year programme supporting their work.

Visiting the School

If you are interested in coming to one of our open days please call the School’s office on 0207 613 8522 for scheduled timings.

The School has its own etching facilities and students are given studio space in the Tea Building studios 5 minutes from the School.

Students who successfully complete the Drawing Year are awarded a diploma certificate.

Now in its fifth year young artists with increasing national reputations have completed the Drawing Year. Students are expected to have completed a related degree course but this is not essential.