Chelsea focus month to conclude with ‘illuminating’ event

Staff, students and invited guests will come together tomorrow evening to witness the switching on of a new student-designed neon installation in the welcome area of the Chelsea Centre for the Creative Industries.

The event will be the finishing touch of a month of focus on Morley’s work in SW10, which has also featured:

• A series of staff profiles published on the Chelsea Centre Blog, including
  • Fine Art tutor Erika Winstone
  • Printmaking tutor Susan Andreae
  • Media tutor Wesley Tang
  • History tutor Caryle Webb-Ingall
  • Fashion subject leader Christine Mhando
• A Higher Education Fine Art midyear show
• A week focused on our Media department
• Our first ever Penny Lecture at Chelsea
• The launch of our new Young Arts Club

A creative vision

Speaking ahead of tomorrow’s event, Centre Principal Matias Shortcook said:

“Creativity is everywhere. It is valued as much by athletes, engineers, mathematicians and scientists as it is by artists, writers and composers. And so at Chelsea, we are supporting a new generation of creatives to build 21st century skills for future careers in all sectors.

“Each and every day I’m thrilled to see students developing their skills in painting, pattern cutting, casting, editing, millinery, darkroom processing, intaglio printing, studio lighting…and so the list goes on. But a critical element of the Morley skills mix is probably the most important of all: it’s the bit that the creative industries excel at, and yet perhaps the sector’s best kept secret…it’s supporting the development of students’ transferable skills.

“These are the skills that employers consistently recognise as in highest demand, including teamwork, communication, initiative, and problem solving. The skills that help you remain resilient, work with others and also value what you do.

“It’s this mix of skills that means we are proud partners in EVERY student’s journey to find their authentic self.”

A creative curriculum

Our curriculum is founded on the belief that real-world industry skills are developed through education that is highly collaborative, where different creative disciplines overlap and connect on a daily basis.

It’s delivered by practitioners whose experience is rooted in the creative industries themselves.

With provision geared for both 16—18 year olds and adults at all ages and stages (including those keen to pursue higher education), our broad curriculum offer is built around three pillars:

• Art, including courses in Fine Art and Creative Discovery
• Design, including courses in Fashion, Graphics and 3D Design
• Media, including courses in Games Design, Esports, Film and Photography

The Centre’s offer is complemented by our Essential Skills provision, which is offered cross-college.

A creative environment

Over the coming years, we will continue to enhance and develop our extensive facilities, which are located in the ‘foothills’ of two of Chelsea’s most creative streets — Fulham Road and King’s Road — and within easy reach of Chelsea’s Design Quarter.

Our ambition is to provide state-of-the-art spaces that inspire Londoners to learn. Here’s a preview of the facilities already available to students: