School of Creative Arts

Visual Arts (Photography & Graphics)

Combined course in photography and graphic design for broader learning before specialising at level 3. Also includes fundamental art skills.

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Oil Painting Beginner course (Tuesday)

This course is an introduction to the fundamentals of oil painting. You will learn how to select, compose, and convert your images into impress...

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Theatre Production BTEC Extended Certificate Level 2

Excel backstage with our this creative course. You will also gain technical skills in lighting and sound, understanding how the different discipli...

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About the School

The School of Creative Arts is home to 1500 Graphic Designers, Dancers, Musicians, Artists, Actors, Photographers, Musical Theatre Performers, Theatre Designers, Film Makers, Journalists, Games Designers, Theatre Technicians, Music Producers and Textile specialists.  Working in industry standard facilities our students develop their skills and professional practice to ensure they are ready for Higher Education, work or an apprenticeship.  We have close partnerships with the Arts sector across the region who work out of our facilities and help develop the learners’ understanding of the sector.  Leeds City College Quarry Hill campus is the largest and most exciting Creative Arts School in the region and there are still many exciting opportunities to explore.

Visual Arts:

The Visual Arts Department delivers courses in art, photography, graphics and textiles to over 500 learners. Our Quarry Hill campus is home to wonderful facilities and a highly skilled staff team who have a broad range of specialist skills and sector knowledge. We deliver a varied curriculum at Levels 1, 2 and 3, which includes both practical and academic skills, to predominantly 16-19 learners. We have strong progression opportunities throughout, including opportunities to our growing Access and HE provision.

Based in the heart of a culturally creative city, we are extremely proud of the experience that we offer our learners and make the most of the connections we have.. We are committed to providing work experience and focus on developing personal and employability skills to prepare our learners for their future life and work. Above all else, we provide an environment for our learners to develop their own creative independence to prepare them for their next steps and support them in discovering where those steps may take them.

Contact: Kirsty Allison, Head of Visual Arts

Kirsty.Allison@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Creative Media and Digital Arts:

Creative Media and Digital Arts is a department of more than 400 learners and 30 teachers delivering media, TV and film, games design, animation and journalism at our state-of-the art Quarry Hill Campus. We deliver a varied curriculum at Levels 1, 2 and 3, which includes both technical and academic skills, to students mostly aged 16-19. Our highly skilled team of specialist teachers and support staff takes pride in developing our students’ personal and employability skills to prepare them for their future life and work. Our ultimate goal is to enable our learners to become independent, skilled individuals who excel in the industry specialisms they have chosen.

Contact: Sarah Robinson, Head of Creative Media and Digital Arts

Sarah.Robinson@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Music and Performance Production:

To put it simply we bring the noise! Performers, technicians, engineers, designers and musicians combine to create one of the most energetic and lively departments in Leeds City College. Based out of our fantastic facilities here at Quarry Hill, we work across the city with creative organisations and venues. The 500 students and staff in our department share a creative energy, flair and practical problem solving attitude to all the work that we do. Be it musical theatre, dance, acting, DJing, studio engineering, backstage work, theatre design or being part of our 28 bands, students can explore their own creative practice and plan for a long and successful career in the arts.

Contact: Richard Lee, Assistant Principal Creative Arts

Richard.Lee@leedscitycollege.ac.uk

Facilities

School of Creative Arts facilities at Quarry Hill Campus include, 

Art Studios

Textile Studio

Print Room

Photography Studios

Photographic Darkroom

iMac Suites

Graphics Studio

Mac DAW Production Suites 

Recording Studios

Ensemble Rooms

Sprung Floor Dance Studios

Industry Standard Theatre 

Make-up Studio

Costume Room

Prop and set making workshop

Industry Standard TV Studio

Gaming Suites

Animation Suite

Independent Learning Zones 

Lecture Theatre

 

We have equipment dispensaries allowing students to borrow resources to support their studies.

Store Links

Our exciting short courses are available from the store.

FAQs

What courses do you offer?

We offer many creative courses at Level 1, 2 and 3. 

 

These courses include: Acting, Art and Design, Animation, Computer Games, Dance, Digital Media, eSports, Fashion and Textiles, Graphic Design, Journalism, Music Production, Musical Theatre, Music Performance, Performing Arts, Photography Theatre Design and Production, and TV and Film Production.

What progression routes are available from your courses?

Progression routes are available from Level 1 to Level 3 within the department. Additionally, University Centre Leeds offers a range of creative degrees as a progression option for Level 3 students.

What industry links and partnerships do you have?

Both of our Creative Arts departments have a range of industry links including: East Street Arts, Deer Shed 9 Festival, Yorkshire Sculpture Triangle, Studio 24, Games Republic, GaMaYo, IBM, Sleepy Brain Studios, EGX Rezzed, Yorkshire Games Festival, Leeds Playhouse, MAP Charity, Opera North and Howard Assembly Rooms.

We have previously worked with Phoenix Dance Theatre, Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Northern Ballet, ZooNation, RJC Dance, DAZL, Breeze Foundation and Hunslet Club.

What financial support is available at the college?

Students are able to apply for the college bursary which can pay for travel passes, college meals and trips or visits. Students with children can also gain support with childcare to support their studies.

Which campus are you based at?

Based in the Cultural Quarter of Leeds, Quarry Hill Campus is our new £60m campus. A blend of green scenery and modern architecture, the building features tree etchings designed by the School of Creative Arts, and nostalgic photographs of former residents.

 

Quarry Hill Campus boasts specialist resources, digital technology labs, and industry standard studios and theatres. With cutting-edge facilities and schools that pride themselves on industry links, Quarry Hill is unrivalled in the region.

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Safeguarding

We are committed to making sure all students and staff are protected from harm. All staff are trained in safeguarding and child protection and our dedicated safeguarding team is on hand for advice and support. Don’t stay silent, we are here for you.

Apprenticeships

School of Creative Arts

Pre-Press Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

A Pre-press Technician is skilled in all the physical processes that occur before the printing process. Pre-press is the first stage of product...

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Press Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Printing is carried out using printing presses; typically, the company’s most expensive and valuable machinery. There are 6 different categor...

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Post-Press Technician Level 3 Apprenticeship

Finishing is a general term used in the print industry to describe any processes after printing. This is usually in the final stages of creatin...

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Leeds City College