Has anyone done a course with the Open College of the Arts?

[dontticklethetoad]

I'm really keen to do a BA (Hons) Creative Arts with OCA. It would have to be distance learning, to fit in with work.

Just wondering if anyone has done a course with them.

I did my art degree part-time with a well-known art college instead. I looked at distance learning but it did not feel interesting/professional enough. Some art colleges offer part-time degree with attendance in the evening or one day a week.

It is quite a big part of doing an art degree to have group crits (where you display your work for your fellow students and tutor to comment on) and spend time in the studio space that many art college will provide which should be possible again post-covid and you learn a lot from interacting with other art students and see them making work. Doing it all remotely would not be my preferred choice.

I have done various art courses in my youth (nearly 20 years ago), so I understand what you're saying, but it would not be compatible with my circumstances. Plus there is the uncertainty of current times.

The oca encourage students to start a blog to allow critique from others on the course.
One of the main selling points is doing it module by module, in my own time. Which also offers some financial freedom. I think 8 years is the max, which I'm fairly sure I'll manage

Hi

You may have already applied to OCA -in which case good luck and I hope you enjoy your course.

I too am thinking of taking a course with OCA but I'm doing lots of learning and practise first for a year or so as I'm so awful at art! (Learning from You Tube etc). I actually heard of OCA via Googling the work of Ron Coleman ....who it turns out, studied with OCA - roncoleman.uk/

I like Ron's flowers pictures (loose/abstract) and had bought a greetings card which featured his work and then looked up where he'd trained. (I'd not heard of OCA previously).

I don't know him at all but he might be kind enough to give you some feedback on how he found the OCA course if you visit his site and find the contacts page? All the very best!