Art Exhibition by Youghal Graduates

Posted on June 13, 2008

Landscape Photo by Finola Riordan

An Art Exhibition by the 2008 Graduates from East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre will be officially opened on Friday, June 27th at 7:30pm. The exhibition will run on Saturday and Sunday, June 28th and 29th from 1 to 5pm.

The graduates have just completed a two year Art, Craft and Design FETAC level 5 courses. During their course they covered Painting, Drawing, Ceramics, Photography, Woven Textiles, Batik, Design, Work Experience and Communications.

Nuala Glanton, Adult Education Officer with Co. Cork VEC, said it was the first time the course was run in Youghal and it was very successful. “The feedback from the students was extremely positive. The tutors on the course were excellent; they are all experts in their own area and as a result the students got top quality tuition. The FETAC external examiner was very impressed with our centre and with the high standard of work produced by the students.”

East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre - Youghal

Patricia Burns is the coordinator of the course and she said she noticed a huge improvement in the students’ confidence during the course. A lot of the students did not have a lot of experience in art before they started the course and now they are looking at where they can go next. She said the course provides an excellent base for students applying to third level.

One of the graduates, Teresa Lucey, is setting up an art and crafts gallery in Redbarn, Youghal. Students from the course will exhibit and sell their work in the Redbarn Arts & Crafts Studio which Teresa hopes to open by the end of June. Local artists and craft persons will also be submitting their work including, knitting, card making, ceramics and fine art. Teresa will also be running craft and painting classes from the centre. Teresa said the course helped her to set up her gallery and gave her an insight into other crafts particularly ceramics. She recently purchased a kiln in partnership with another student on the course to continue her ceramics.

Another graduate Keith Watkins is in the process of setting up his own advertising and graphic design business in Youghal. Stop Sign is a one-stop-shop for advertising, creating signs and designs or any advertising products from business cards and logo designs to vinals for cars or spray art for motorcycle tanks. Keith said the course has opened up doors for him; he wasn’t aware of there opportunities that are there through FETAC and has now applied to do another course in St John’s in Cork city this year. He said he found the staff in the VEC to be brilliant, they told him where to go.

Breeda O’Brien, another graduate is now a partner in a gallery and art school in Ardmore. The Ardmore Gallery and Studios is running Art Classes throughout the summer. Breeda said she has benefited so much from the course, she found it tough going at times combining the course with family life but she would highly recommend the course. She really enjoyed meeting other people. Breeda is also a practicing artist and her work is on display in the Ardmore Gallery.

In total 26 students received certification from FETAC and 11 of these students completed the full FETAC Level 5 certificate and will graduate with a National Certificate in Art, Craft & Design in the autumn. The ages of students ranged from 20 to 74. Eileen Foley is the eldest graduate at 74 years of age and is a great example of life long learning. Eileen completed 8 modules and will graduate with a full certificate. She said “the course very good and the tutors were excellent. Photography was the hardest but I got there in the end.”

As part of their Work Experience module the group completed a display of paintings based on the theme of Youghal and a ceramic installation on a costal theme. Both will be on display at the exhibition and in the East Cork Further Education and Youthreach Centre in Youghal on an ongoing basis.

A new course will be starting in September in the East Cork Further Education Centre. A full brochure of all the courses running in the centre and an application form are available from Patrick Callinan on 024-92804.