Our Foundation course will focus on your personal and creative development based around a broad exploration of visual disciplines, leading directly to a BA course in the School of Art or the School of Visual Communication within the Art, Design and Media Faculty at BCU. Working in a lively and energetic environment you will be given the freedom to expand your knowledge in conceptual development, practical skills and creative exploration underpinned by broad critical understanding and emerging theoretical principles. You will work individually and collaboratively to develop a stimulating visual portfolio of work that evidences your enthusiasm for further study within a specific subject area.BA teaching staff from across both schools will work with you throughout the course and you will have full access to all the University facilities.Our Art and Design course is a highly flexible interdisciplinary programme of study that encourages you to identify your own individual practices and apply them to a range of real world contexts.After an initial diagnostic period, critical approaches and design methodologies will help your personal development through engagement with external facing ‘live’ projects, collaborative working with both university and other professional organisations, diverse workshop facilities, and a team of academic and technical staff who are all active in a range of professional fields.You will work on studio and live projects to develop your own practice, whether your interest lies in photography, installation, print, digital media, sculpture, illustration, curatorial practice, textiles, drawing, sound, graphic design, public art or three-dimensional design. Working closely with academic and technical staff, you will develop new skills and approaches to projects which help you gain confidence, helping you to uncover your own strengths and interests.In your second year you will develop live/collaborative projects and participate in professional placements. You will also have the chance to study abroad at one of our European partner institutions.The course includes regular talks from visiting professional artists, designers, curators, craftspeople and entrepreneurs to maximise your employability prospects. You’ll also receive the support of expert academics, like Stuart Whipps, who has recently exhibited his work in the British Art Show 2015. Students have previously enjoyed experiences, like responding to the architecture of Dudley Zoological Gardens’ World Heritage Site to represent the Zoo’s 1930s-listed structures.