The programmes at Limerick School of Art & Design (LSAD) aim to assist students to become confident, articulate, informed, creative and expressive practitioners, who will be capable of making significant contributions in their own particular fields of contemporary culture.

This full-time art portfolio course provides a solid foundation in the necessary skills required for higher education or a career in art, craft or design. By covering a broad mix of disciplines, you will have the opportunity to find your own strengths.

We encourage the development of ideas through drawing and personal research. On completion of the course, you should have a portfolio reflecting a wide range of skills and experience but also a sense of focus and direction.

In the second and third terms of the year, many of the students will apply to third level colleges of art and design. We will assist these students in selecting and organising their work into the best possible portfolio to achieve acceptance on their chosen course.

This Professional Certificate has been designed for practicing artists and designers, research students who wish to develop methods of research that suit their practice needs. It can be taken with a current research project in mind or as approached as a rich tank of ideas that will fuel future practice.

Explore the ethical questions raised by the most creative and ambitious forms of art and design practice today.

In this series of classes, you will have opportunities to explore practical, conceptual and ethical issues raised by endeavour of making art in the archive. You will debate the merits of different artistic and curatorial practices and you will meet archivists who are charged with making materials in their care accessible.

This is a portfolio preparation and general art course for students who wish to gain entry to a third level Art College in Ireland, the U.K. or abroad. The emphasis will be placed on the preparation of a balanced portfolio as well as developing skills in the art, craft and design areas. The portfolio, showing the student's individual sense of design and pattern, can use a wide variety of the modules covered on the course as well as the student's own interpretation of colour and design. Depending on the combination of modules a student can achieve a qualification in Fine Art or Design/2D.

This one-year Art & Design course is a foundation year in art and design. A foundation in art and design provides the fundamental knowledge and understanding of art and design processes to provide a good basis for further study in any related area. During the year students will learn to draw, and learn about the variety of ways that drawing can be used, e.g. life-drawing, drawing for design purposes etc. Other areas of study are; painting and colour, 3-D and sculpture, printmaking, mixed media and collage, art history, graphic design.

This is a full-time one-year course and runs from September to May.

The programme works directly with an urban embedded novel ecology of the NCAD FIELD site. This taskscape acts as an outdoor classroom, a site for nature connection, commoning and a testing site for multi-species futures.

The programme supports a range of creative approaches and interdisciplinary art and design practitioners that wish to connect and work in the space of critical ecologies and expanded environments.

Learners aiming to evolve as artists, curators, activists, designers and cultural producers will be supported, giving them the tools, networks and knowledge to confidently work in this interdisciplinary field.

Do you want to develop your creative making and critical thinking skills in a meaningful and tangible way? If so, this Professional Certificate in Art and Ecology may be just what you’re looking for.

This module introduces learners to fundamental principles, working methods, skills and theories relating to intersections of contemporary art with ecology. A special emphasis will be placed on ‘learning through doing’ in a series of workshops and situated environmental learning.

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.