On the 24th of September, Colchester Institute proudly celebrated the official opening of its new Art and Design facility, alongside the launch of Incubator, a new exhibition space dedicated to showcasing the work of alumni students.
The new space provides students with dedicated spaces in which they can develop their creative skills. The facilities will support students across a wide range of disciplines, providing an inspiring and professional environment for innovative learning.
The space will be used by students studying a range of creative courses, including Arts for Screen and Theatre, Concept Art and Animation, Fashion Design and Textiles, among many others. It will also support students aged 18 and over studying the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design.
Alongside the new teaching facilities, the launch celebrated the opening of Incubator, a dedicated exhibition space providing Colchester Institute alumni with the opportunity to showcase their work.
The first exhibition, Groundings, featured work by former Art and Design students Sam Elston and Heidi Sharp, bringing their work back to the place where their creative journeys began. The exhibition was on display from August until the official launch event in September.
Heidi Sharp said, “Colchester Institute’s Art and Design course encouraged me to play and experiment within my practice, as well as supporting me in broadening and refining my skillset. It taught me a huge range of invaluable skills, and the importance of collaboration.”
Sam Elston said, “My studies opened my eyes to the possibilities within design, sparking new interests and ideas. It gave me the freedom to collaborate, explore, create and make mistakes, while building a skillset and solid foundation in design that I’m still using today.”
Incubator forms part of the department’s growing network of creative partnerships across Colchester and Essex, including work with Mercury Theatre, Firstsite, University of the Arts London (UAL) and Norwich University of the Arts (NUA). These connections provide opportunities to strengthen links between students, alumni and the wider creative industries.
David Hutt, Head of Art and Design, said, “We are excited to officially open our new Art and Design facilities and see students begin to make use of the space. The building provides an environment for our learners to experiment, collaborate and develop their creative practice, while Incubator gives us an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of our former students and maintain those connections beyond their time at the College.”
The launch event welcomed alumni, students, staff and representatives from the creative industries, who gathered to explore the new facilities and view the Groundings exhibition.
