THE OPEN COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

Open College of the Arts (OCA) was founded by Michael Young (Lord Young of Dartington) to offer everyone the chance of taking traditional arts courses without prior qualifications or restrictions. His vision was to transform people’s lives by giving them the opportunity and skills to express their creative talents under the guidance of professional artists.

Unlike many organisations offering arts courses, OCA is a non-profit-making charity and its revenues are used for improving its services and range of courses. OCA is affiliated to the Open University but is not directly government funded. Courses can be taken by complete beginners or those with experience. There are no entry requirements or age limits, because OCA believes that there should be no barriers to a person’s ability to develop.

Study for pleasure, qualifications or a career
Most OCA students take courses for personal development or sheer pleasure. However, for those who are interested in getting qualifications, many OCA courses are accredited by our accrediting university, and you can get a certificate, diploma or degree just by taking OCA courses. You can also combine OCA courses with modules from other universities, for instance the OU. An alternative route to a qualification is that conventional colleges/universities often accept direct entry of OCA students based solely on their portfolio of work, even onto MA courses.

Get a BA Hons with OCA
In its 20th anniversary year, the OCA is proud to announce it can now offer a full BA honours degree by distance learning. Over 50 courses have been accredited covering visual arts; photography; art history; environmental design; creative writing; and composing music.

Key features of the degree:

• No entry requirements
• Home-study practical courses
• No compulsory summer schools
• No sit-down examinations
• Study from a wide range of creative subjects
• Study when you want
• Enrol at any time of the year
• No accommodation fees.

Meeting student needs
OCA’s flexibility in meeting the individual needs of its students is  legendary. This flexibility is the reason why courses that can be taken purely for pleasure are increasingly attracting people who already have arts degrees (often from famous colleges) but found that painting and drawing were considered unimportant in the ‘modern’ world of art teaching.

Apart from pure drawing and painting courses, OCA also offers courses in art and design, printmaking, sculpture, creative digital art, photography, digital photography, creative camcorder, calligraphy, textiles, garden design, interior design, art history, composing music, singing, dance and creative writing. In each case the emphasis is on gaining creative skills by actually ‘doing’ under the guidance of an artist, designer or writer who is a practitioner, not just a theoretician. The old chestnut of ‘those who can do and those who can’t teach’ doesn’t apply to our tutors.

Many of our students cross boundaries between subject areas, for example having discovered their creative spark on a painting course they realise they have the confidence to move into garden design or creative writing.

Studying with OCA
Open College of the Arts’ student Peter Stapleton comments on his experience of studying OCA’s courses in prison:

“I have spent the last 12 years in prison. It was during this time that by a twist of fate I discovered I could paint, having had no previous experience. I was encouraged to turn my new-found passion into something that could be developed and to look at the possibilities for a career in art upon my release. The prison put me in touch with OCA and got me funding for an arts degree.

“I appreciate all forms of art but my heart lies with painting and drawing, a real passion that comes from within, which is why I like the OCA course. I believe art is a unique subject unlike any other.

“I find studying with OCA allows me to expand myself and it is not too restrictive. The coursework sets the assignments, but it is all about the student’s personal development. There are no boundaries; it is all about finding your own personal style.

“The governor at my prison has taken a personal interest and allowed me to attend an exhibition at OCA where some of my paintings were exhibited. I met some fantastic people there who looked on me as another artist and not a prisoner. I will be released soon and I hope to be a successful artist one day. I am now looking forward to a new lease of life away from crime.”

For a free college brochure write, phone, fax or
E-mail to:
OCA Freepost, Barnsley S75 1WZ;
Freephone: 0800 731 2116
Fax: 01226 730 838;
Email: open.arts@ukonline.co.uk;
Website: www.oca-uk.com.