Art students from Wiltshire College & University Centre have put their creative skills into practice alongside professional artists and traditional craftspeople during a two-week work experience trip to Porto.
A group of 20 Level 3 Creative Practice and Foundation Art and Design students from the college’s Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury campuses travelled to Portugal for placements linked to their individual specialisms.
The trip was part-funded through the Turing Scheme and co-organised by RiSE International, with students successfully applying and being interviewed before being allocated placements at nine different studios across the historic city.
Jen Shutt, Deputy Head of Creative Arts, Media and Performance at Wiltshire College & University Centre, said, “We had placements in studios specialising in leatherwork, ceramics and architecture, among others, and we had some students working at the Escola Utopia art school, painting a mural.
“There is such a rich history of creativity and art in the area so it was an ideal place for them to go.”
Students put their skills into practice
Some students worked on their own projects under the guidance of local specialists, while others contributed to existing projects.
“The students who worked at the leatherwork studio were tasked with designing and creating their own bag and pencil case,” said Jen. “They cut all the leather and did the sewing to produce their bag and then they were gifted it to take home, which was brilliant. Another student at the leather company was creating content for the company’s social media.”
Jen said the experience challenged students in a number of ways, particularly those who had never travelled abroad or completed a work placement before.
“But they approached it with enthusiasm and excitement and got a lot out of it,” she said. “Working with independent artists allowed them to understand what it is like to become a specialist and have your own studio.”
Experiencing a different creative culture
The placements also introduced students to different working methods, materials and artistic influences.
“It was a cultural shift for them,” said Jen. “Although our students already have a strong understanding of their specialism, experiencing different materials, working methods and artistic influences through another culture broadened their perspective.
“Porto has a lot of history and that really influences the way people work over there. It was very beneficial for the students to be able to understand that, absorb it and replicate it within their work.”
Jen, who was accompanied by Foundation Art and Design lecturer Rob Hemmings, said the students’ confidence grew significantly during the fortnight.
“You could see from when we arrived to when we left how their confidence had grown exponentially,” she said.
“Where we were staying was not a tourist area so instead of feeling like they were visiting Porto, they felt like they lived there for two weeks. They bought and cooked the local food and started speaking little bits of the language.”
The placements also resulted in valuable professional connections, with some students invited to return to work with artists and designers in the future.
“Lots of really good connections were made,” said Jen. “It has been an experience our students will remember and continue to draw confidence from.”
For more information about arts courses at Wiltshire College & University Centre, visit wiltshire.ac.uk.
