NCAT CREATE OPENS AN EXCITING NEW CHAPTER!

It is with great excitement that we announce that NCAT Create is now offering a Diploma of Visual Arts! 

NCAT Create students have long wished that the course could run across two years. At the end of their year with us they very often felt that they wanted more time to extend specialised skills in order to further prepare for life as visual artists. This meant they often went on to complete Visual Arts Diplomas elsewhere (whilst lamenting that they could not be at Create). 

We listened and we acted. As of 2020, the course will run as a two-year, part-time course, after which students will attain the CUA51115 Diploma of Visual Arts. This will enable them to explore skills, techniques and ideas in the first year and then extend, refine and specialise in the second year! As previously, the course will run on Thursdays and Fridays with an optional open studio access day on Tuesdays. This enables mature aged students access to employment and other commitments whilst studying. Course hours remain family friendly: 9:30am - 3pm.

Subjects include:
Year One

• Art Studio
• Life Drawing
• Digital
• Art in Context

Year Two

• Art Studio
• Drawn from Life
• Digital
• Contemporary Art Practice

Create has been a hugely popular course and we are confident that these changes will see it go from strength to strength whilst still retaining the core of it's success - amazing skills development, accessibility and nurture. Stay tuned for an exciting year! #ncatcreate

More information and application details can be found on the NCAT website: 
https://ncat.vic.edu.au/ncat-create

NCAT is a Registered Training Organisation 6736. All trainers are qualified to deliver this qualification. Students may be eligible for a government subsidised position through Skills First funding and can access a VET Student Loan if required.

NCAT FOLIO PREPARATION GRADUATE SHOW AT NEON PARLOUR

The graduating NCAT Folio Preparation students have worked hard to put together outstanding art and design works for their annual exhibition at Neon Parlour Art Gallery and Studios in Thornbury. It was a wonderful showcase of the students creative work and an opportunity to meet members of the wider NCAT community. 

The exhibition couldn’t have happened without our generous Community Arts Grant from the City of Darebin. This grant enabled us to get out into our local hood to give our students a real world taste of all that is involved in putting a large group show together. Thank you! 

Big shout outs to: 

• The student's who gave up their precious time to produce beautiful artworks
• The NCAT staff who championed the cause! 
• Travis Vella from Neon Parlour who curated the show
• Neon Parlour for hosting
• Bei Janetzki for cool exhibition invitation designs
• Install team: Charles, Sandra, Martin, Jack for their tireless work
• James Prospero (NCAT Music student) for creating wonderful ambient music 
• Our gorgeous NCAT cafe staff for their delicious catering
• Darebin Smarty Grants
• MinuteMan Press for their super invite printing 
• Rachel O'Connor’s awesome vinyl lettering
• Tracy for overseeing the big picture & opening the show
• Marty, Jo, Jack, Michael and Ian who sat the show over the weekend
• Everyone who came along!

Fabulous collaboration everyone!

Neon Parlour @neonparlour

791 High St, Thornbury

11-5pm Wed-Sun

 INSTALLING THE EXHIBITION

MID YEAR PORTFOLIO REVIEW FOR NCAT CREATE

AS A REQUIREMENT OF THEIR COURSE, THE NCAT CREATE STUDENTS PRESENT THEIR PORTFOLIOS AT MID AND FINAL REVIEWS. PORTFOLIO PRESENTATIONS GIVE STUDENTS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISPLAY THEIR ARTWORK AND LOOK AT IT AS A BODY OF WORK.

Often a lack of space stifles the ability to look at all the artwork a student creates and therefore they miss out on seeing an overview of their emerging style, plus identifying strengths and areas for improvement. At mid and final portfolio reviews, Create students are able to lay out all their finished pieces in an allotted area and examine it as a body of work.

Portfolio review also allows students to be actively involved in group-based critiques. Critiquing each other's portfolios helps students to explore the creative process and their experience as a developing artist. The process of group critiquing is about finding their creative voice and a balance between compliment & constructive criticism. Students learn that the criticism is never personal – It is about the portfolio of artworks not the artist. Critiquing should always be balanced, neutral and constructive. Group critiques enable students to build skills by being exposed to different styles, options and approaches. It also assists students to push their responses to art beyond the initial "I like it", to questions of 'why?' and 'how?, articulated using art based visual literacy.

The Portfolio review whilst initially potentially challenging to some, is an excellent opportunity to build creative confidence.The review process brings together the artworks produced in NCAT Create students' Studio, Digital and Life Drawing classes.

Some students come to us blocked by years of self doubt. After initially letting their inner critic run rampant, they discover when they stand back after setting up their work, that there is a distinct style emerging and that they have come so far. It is often the first time that they begin to consider themselves as an emerging artist - and we are lucky enough to observe that realisation!

Accompanying their portfolio is a written Artist's Statement and in the final review, a creative resume. 

Our congratulations go out to all our students. It really is an incredibly impressive sight!

All images ©NCAT Create