Contemporary art students will have the chance to work on their sculpture skills thanks to a partnership with a charitable art workshop centre. Edinburgh College has teamed up with the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop (ESW) as part of its aim to increase students’ employability.
Students studying towards a HND in Contemporary Art Practice will be given the chance to develop their practical skills in sculpture and other disciplines at a new employability centre at ESW. The £4 million development in Hawthornvale (pictured below) will offer students a professional environment and the opportunity to work alongside artists from around the world.
Alan Holligan, Lecturer at Edinburgh College, said: “We are very excited about our new partnership with the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, which we have managed to secure as a result of an ongoing relationship over the past eight years. It is important that learners on our Contemporary Arts course are given the chance to develop their practical skills in different disciplines such as sculpture and also look to further their professional development, in preparation for the work place.
“Our aim is to establish links with as many of the industries that our students will go on to work in, to give them the best chance possible when it comes to employment, with employers recognising that our courses have these valuable links. What’s especially great about this partnership is that the college donated £25,000 for new equipment for the ESW which means that the students will now have access to these brand new tools during their time there. Our students are looking forward to the many opportunities which will become available as a result of this partnership and especially the chance to exhibit their work once a year.”
Edinburgh College is the first college in Scotland to have worked with the Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop, the only purpose-built centre of its kind in the UK. The partnership will further student professional development as well as giving Edinburgh College staff free development opportunities.