This blended course offers you grounding in art and health context and connects you with leading figures of practice.

There is a growing evidence base for the role of arts improving health and wellbeing. Healthcare systems around the world are struggling and new approaches to healthcare challenges are needed. Arts and health are key contributors to these changes.

The Portfolio Preparation program provides a rigorous foundation in art, craft, and design, tailored for students aiming for higher education in Ireland or abroad. The curriculum emphasizes the development of original ideas through intensive drawing and personal research. By exploring a broad spectrum of creative disciplines, learners identify their individual strengths and refine their artistic focus. The course is specifically structured to produce a balanced, professional portfolio that showcases both technical proficiency and a unique creative voice.

This is of interest both to students who wish to pursue a career or progress to further study in this area. The programme covers a variety of disciplines, as listed below. Individual studio space allows for development of creativity and challenges the student to become more inventive and confident in their strategic thinking. Visiting artist workshops are organised to encourage an understanding of contemporary artistic practices and thinking. Students are given the opportunity to visit a number of exhibitions and art galleries throughout the academic year. An end-of-year show allows students to display work they have created in the course of the year.

This intensive one-year course is designed for students aiming to produce a high-standard portfolio for third-level Art, Craft, and Design programs. It fosters an independent work ethic and problem-solving skills through a series of practical and conceptual creative tasks. Due to its ambitious nature and short deadlines, the program requires significant personal commitment to prepare learners for the rigors of university study in Ireland or abroad.

This course is specifically designed for learners who wish to develop a strong, individual, and creative art portfolio for progression to third-level education. The course provides learners with the opportunity to explore both traditional and contemporary art and design practices, while building experience across a diverse range of materials, techniques, and media. Through structured studio work, guided projects, and independent practice, learners develop their creative thinking, technical skills, and visual communication.

The Art & Design (Portfolio Preparation) course is a concentrated one-year program designed to bridge the gap between creative ambition and entry into world-class Art and Design universities. The curriculum is centered on the production of a diverse and sophisticated portfolio, encompassing traditional fine art practices like painting and sculpture alongside modern digital photography and film. The course is highly flexible, supporting individual interpretation across various pathways—whether your interest lies in fashion, illustration, or fine art—ensuring your portfolio reflects your specific creative identity.

The Art Graphics and Printmaking (AGP) course is a comprehensive program designed to help students build a versatile and dynamic portfolio that bridges the gap between traditional fine art and modern digital design. The curriculum offers a rich blend of disciplines, including painting, printmaking, and photography, alongside intensive training in computer-based design. By utilizing a dedicated digital studio equipped with industry-standard software like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, students gain the technical proficiency required for the competitive world of visual communications. This dual approach ensures that graduates are equally comfortable with a paintbrush as they are with a digital stylus

The aim of this one year full time course course is to provide the learner with the opportunity to develop skills in a variety of traditional and modern art and craft disciplines including drawing, painting and ceramics as well as working with a variety of materials.

This one-year, NFQ Level 5 full time course equips learners with the skills and knowledge in Art and Design. Learners will explore, experiment and build on basic skills in a variety of media and disciplines. Drawing from observation is a core element as is the use of sketchbooks for research and creative thinking. This then leads to project work in other areas such as design, painting, print, ceramics and digital photography.This approach leads to the development of a varied and exciting project lead portfolio, essential in progressing to Art College.

Students will have the opportunity to:

• Develop creative thinking and design skills, learning how to plan, research, and bring ideas to life through hands-on projects.
• Improve drawing abilities, using different materials and methods to express ideas and develop a personal artistic style.
• Explore painting techniques, learning how to use colour, texture, and composition to create original artwork.
• Work with clay, gaining hands-on experience in shaping, glazing, and firing to produce finished ceramic pieces.
• Create original prints, using a range of traditional and modern printmaking techniques.
• Use digital photography creatively, learning how to take, edit, and present photographs using digital tools and software.

In this course, students will have the opportunity to explore their individual creative interests through a wide variety of artistic processes. Working in a studio-style classroom environment, learners can experiment, share ideas, and develop their own personal style while engaging with both traditional and contemporary techniques. Students will work with a broad range of materials and methods, including collage, embroidery, printmaking, painting, drawing, sculpture, relief techniques, and mixed-media approaches.

This is a one-year course with a requirement to achieve 120 credits. It particularly suits participants that are eager to develop their artistic skills in a wide range of different modules.

Location: Athlone

The overall aim of the programme is to provide the learner with the opportunity to develop the required knowledge, skills and competence in art, craft and design in order to meet the standards set by the awarding body in the award specification for Art, Craft and Design level 5.

Please refer to Programme Descriptor for Programme Objectives. Employment opportunities in this area range from setting up their own small art and craft business to working in areas such as community art, festival events, interior decorating and so on.