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Collaboration and community at uni

I really want to find a university who focuses a lot on collaboration, collectiveness and being a community. Can someone help?? Hate all these art unis that pretend to be different but are oh so commercialised

Reply 1

Clearing and Applications Advisor

Original post by Timeofyourlifeee

Which art universities have you found to be commercialised?

Reply 2

ArtsUniPlymouth

Official Rep

Hey there Timeofyourlifeee,

What you're looking for in a university is exactly what I was looking for, too. I found a lot of artistic unis would advertise themselves as such but turned out to be pretty similar to everywhere else.

I was a bit sceptical when coming to an open day here at Plymouth College of Art, as I'd experienced lots of unis trying a bit too hard to be different, but I was pretty happy to find everyone here seemed friendly, welcoming and genuine on the open day and for my interview also.

As for collaboration, that's a big aspect of our college. For example, I'm a photographer, but I recently exhibited work as part of an exhibition called "Collaboration" where I worked with people studying Illustration, Game Arts and Painting, Drawing and Printmaking.

There is a Facebook page run by students that allows us to advertise collaboration jobs - volunteer, experience and paid - which allows students to work together on their projects. This is really good, I check this regularly because I enjoy helping out and being a part of other people's work.

As well as this, everyone in the college has a module called Interdisciplinary Studies where we initially work together with people from other courses on a short, week-long brief, before working on a longer brief alone that allows us to explore other mediums.

The college is pretty great at being inclusive, and we're definitely our own little creative community, which is a really nice thing to be a part of!

Hope to see you at one of our open days soon,
Harriet!

Reply 3

hallamstudents

Official Rep

Original post by Timeofyourlifeee

Hi there,

I had a very similar experience to you and I was pretty disappointed at all the open days I attended. Which universities have you looked at?

I am now happily studying at Sheffield Hallam University. I am studying Interior Design but there are lots of opportunities to collaborate with other courses such as Product Design, Fashion Design and Fine Art as well as use other courses facilities. There are also many other opportunities through our department for creative projects and networking events. There is also a group called Sheffield Creative Guild and that is basically a massive community of creative people looking to collaborate and exchange skills. They are in partnership with our university and union and have hosted many events with use this year.

There are also lots off opportunities for part time work, entrepreneurship and a lot of support in place from career advisers and tutors.

Hope that helps! Feel free to ask any more questions!

Thanks

Chandni