Creative Short Courses

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Unlock your creativity: Locksbrook Short Courses

Wednesday, 7 May, 2025

BSU’s Short Course unit has recently introduced a new series of creative short courses, titled "Unlocking Locksbrook," to coincide with Locksbrook’s Undergraduate Degree Show. All the available courses will run throughout the month of June and will be taught by artists at Locksbrook campus.

This collection of courses will provide a unique opportunity to explore what BSU's Short Courses can offer. Shining a light on our unique art and design campus, Locksbrook, the courses are designed to be available for anyone looking to explore or develop their creative side.

Hannah Whiting, Head of Business Development commented,

"We’ve developed a series of innovative short courses in a range of subjects, that have helped over 200 BSU alumni and residents pursue their interests. We're excited to work with our colleagues at Locksbrook Campus to offer courses designed to unlock participants' creativity, and open Locksbrook up more widely to our local community."

Natasha Kidd, Associate Vice Provost for Creative Engagement added,

“In October last year I took up a new role as Associate Vice Provost for Creative Engagement at our Locksbrook Campus. This role recognises that the art and design campus has spaces, people, relationships and creative approaches that should be unlocked to the wider community.  The aim of this work is to make the campus a more porous and accessible resource.  We know engagement with the arts has a positive effect on the lives of individuals, improving their skills, their wellbeing, and their health.  It also enriches the communities we live in. Unlocking Locksbrook aims to support an ongoing programme of art, design and cultural activities at the Campus putting Locksbrook on the map as a hub for our creative community.  

It is a delight to have played a part in the development of our new suite of creative short courses, and I am especially exciting to see the launch of these courses take place during our UG degree show. Celebrating a new generation of artists, and designers the degree show offers a unique opportunity for visitors to explore and immerse themselves in the work of a cohort of emerging artists and designers of the future.”

The full list of short courses are as follows:

Freehand Machine Embroidery
Tuesday 17 June, £45 per person

Learn how to use a sewing machine and explore a contemporary way of creating art on fabric. At the end of the course, you’ll have produced a piece of artwork that can be framed and displayed or used as an applique.

Throwing Ceramics
Tuesday 17 June, £75 per person

Learn about the key throwing techniques on the potter’s wheel and how to decorate your ceramic pieces with coloured decorative slips and underglaze colours. By the end of the course, you’ll have produced a series of custom ceramic pieces.

Introduction to Screenprinting - Cut it like Matisse
Wednesday 18 June, £95 per person

Learn how to use the silkscreen process to create big, bold and colourful works using stencils and hand-drawn imagery, inspired by Henri Matisse. At the end of the course, you’ll have produced a selection of prints to display, including your own design.

Handbuilding Ceramics
Wednesday 18 June, £60 per person

Learn about the key handbuilding techniques and how to decorate your ceramic pieces with coloured decorative slips and underglaze colours. By the end of the course, you’ll have produced a series of custom ceramic pieces.

Introduction to Fabric Printing - Heat Press
Thursday 19 June, £125 per person

Learn how to use heat press fabric printing technique and create bespoke fabric goods with the help of the sewing studio. By the end of the course you'll have created a series of cushion covers or tote bags.

Photo Etching
Friday 20 June, £95 per person

Learn about the history of Photogravure and transform your digital photographs into Polymer Gravure prints. By the end of the course, you will have created at least one A5 Polymer Gravure print of your work.

Clay and Wellbeing
Friday 20 June, £25 per person

Explore and play with making with clay, focusing on enjoying hand building processes rather than an end result. You can photograph what you have made and take away the clay to continue making.

BSU’s new creative courses take place during the annual Undergraduate Degree Show, during which you can view work from Bath School of Art, Film and Media and Bath School of Design. As well as taking part in your course, there will be a series of free events and tours taking place at Locksbrook.

The degree show runs from Saturday 14 - Saturday 21 June 2025, 10am – 6pm, at Locksbrook Campus, Bath

If you are interested in signing up for any of the Creative Short Courses, you can here.