Art & DesignNewsletter

Thank you for accepting our offer to study at Bournville College. Here’s a quick snapshot on what’s been happening in our Art & Design department this year so you can look forward to a great experience from September. The first term was very exciting with visits to the Museum Collection Centre, Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and the Gas Hall. We also took a trip to London and showed off our skills at the Skills Show Birmingham, working with Joanne Malin from the BBC on a fashion show and teaching visitors how to make badges.

Our students were extremely fortunate to take part in the Longbridge Light Festival, where they got involved in the production of innovative ‘back to the future’ inspired design concepts and wearable light up costumes. They also had an opportunity to attend the international Tran-si-tion conference, which highlighted best practice within urban design, placemaking and art within a social urban context.

We were delighted that one of our recent graduates, Rose Makamdem, was crowned the Winner of the Vocational Student of the Year Award and the coveted Principal’s Award at our annual Student Awards’ evening, held at Birmingham Town Hall.

Rose said:

‘I was surprised and delighted at the same time to have received two awards, including the Principal’s Award. I’m now studying at Arts University Bournemouth but I will always hold fond memories of Bournville College; the college that first recognised the talent in me, supported me as a student whose first language isn’t English and taught me to be the best I can be. Thank you to all my tutors – I couldn’t have done it without you.’

Key date for your diary

Lisa has been an art lecturer at Bournville College for 6 years, where she teaches across all the Art and Design courses, specialising in Fine Art painting and drawing. As with all the art lecturers, Lisa is a practising artist who continues to produce her own artwork to exhibit, or for commission.

The main theme of her work is cinema and how we consume the moving image as a contemporary audience. She takes single frames from iconic films and explores colour and shape using glazes of oil paints, as well as metal leaf and gloss paint on canvas or aluminium. The students love her soft manner and sense of humour.

Art and Design students love their classroom experience at Bournville College. So far this year various groups have enjoyed drawing portraits, contributing to co-created drawings, translating abstract art into experimental fashion structures, creating 3D work and much more.

Our students have also been exhibiting their work and working to live briefs. A Level Photography students worked on a live brief to celebrate Black History Month. Foundation Degree students exhibited their first project in the new Starbucks Gallery at the College. Two students from this course, Tate Sullivan and James Fitzsimmons volunteered their services and took photos at Stella’s Soiree, a charity event for Tiny Babies Big Appeal.

Creative Show Thursday 11th June 6pm You will be able to see the work of students across the Creative Studies Faculty, meet the students on your course and chat to your tutors. It’s a great opportunity to see the College one more time before you join us in September.

Thank you for reading - remember to follow our blog to keep up with what’s happening and we look forward to seeing you at the Creative Show and welcoming you in September!

Students' Work

Staff member profile

Lisa Thompson