AN art and design course which has led to exciting careers in the creative industries celebrates its 21st birthday.  

Staff and students at Barrow Sixth Form College are marking the 21st birthday of the BTEC Foundation Diploma in Art and Design with a special exhibition. 

The one-year post A-Level course that leads to university, has helped many students on their way to successful art and design careers. 

Alumni include Amy Hardy, who studied a BA Fine Art degree at University of London Goldsmiths, illustrator and textile designer John Booth who has worked with designers including Zandra Rhodes and John Galliano, Barrow artist Hannah Willetts and celebrated tattoo artist Kerry Irvine, who competed in the World Tattoo Championships in New York last month. 

To mark the milestone, the group of 10 students on the course this year will hold a special public exhibition of their work at the Rating Lane college next Friday. 

The exhibition ranges from dance costumes and fashion clothing to fine art and film character design. 

Head of art and design, Nikki Conigliaro, said: “They have been such a dedicated group this year and they’ve created some really fantastic stuff. The costumes and fashion clothes, in particular, are simply stunning and we can’t wait to show them off to the public.

"The foundation art course is where people really find their niche and, as a result, former students have gone on to degree study and travelled all over the world as a result of their art. 

"It would be lovely to see a few of our alumni at the event as it’s such a special year and we invite art teachers from local schools in to view the work.” 

She said students were now holding offers for university places for art and creative courses around the country, including fine art, graphic design, textiles and special effects model design. Others were looking at using their skills to set up in business. 

The group includes adult student Kerry Kosak, who is achieving a lifelong goal after securing a place to study a degree in textiles at Huddersfield University. 

The foundation course started in September 1995 and was taught at sixth form on behalf of Cumbria College of Art and Design. It was taken over by sixth form in 2000 and this year 277 students will have completed the course.

Foundation art tutor and technician at sixth form Andy Currie-Scarr, who is chairman of the Ulverston Society of Artists, completed the course before studying a BA Honours degree in animation and then a PGCE. 

The exhibition will be held from 4pm to 6pm on Friday May 27.

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