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Introduction

The Foundation course is based in a beautiful large open plan studio in the recently renovated ALEX Design Exchange which is where the course originated over 100 years ago. We work across the Alex and Dynevor Campuses offering our students full access to purpose-built workshops, facilities and resources in the art school.

Art student working in a studio

The Art School

The art school boasts some of the best facilities in the area with both traditional and state of the art equipment available for all students to take advantage of. Foundation students obtain access to specialist study areas such as; Printmaking, Photography dark rooms, Construction in a fully equipped workshop, 3D Printing, Laser-cutting, Ceramics and Glass, Mac and PC Digital work spaces.

Student spray painting an art piece

Experience and skill

We maintain the ethos and magic of Foundation, allowing students to build a bedrock of experience and skill whilst discovering new areas they might not have had a chance to explore previously. This, we believe is essential to success at degree level and vital in terms of making the right decision for a future career in the creative industries.

Facilities

Our Foundation students enjoy access to traditional printmaking facilities across our two art and design city centre campuses, such as:

  • letterpress
  • lino
  • screen printing
  • etching
  • risograph
  • collagraph
  • Adana press machines 

These help students develop traditional craft skills in image making and letterform, alongside our bespoke digital provision.

Once Swansea’s old public library, we are based in an architecturally inspiring building that was originally built in 1887. 

Our extensive Foundation studio spaces specialise in the four distinct practice strands of three-dimensional design, visual communication, fine art and textiles. 

Each have their own dedicated studio space.

Our Alex Building workshops specialise in material based three-dimensional construction and design and include extensive facilities that support both traditional hand tool and machine processes. 

Students have access to resin and plaster casting, glass forming and processing, sandblasting, enamelling, cutting, turning, and 3D printing. 

In our Dynevor campus students also benefit from access to a ceramics block, a photography studio and darkroom, fabric printing and laser cutting facilities.

Our Alex Building basement workshops specialise in material based three-dimensional construction and design and include extensive facilities that support both traditional hand tool and machine processes. 

With specialist support from our experienced and knowledgeable technicians, students have access to resin and plaster casting, glass forming and processing, sandblasting, enamelling, acid etching, cutting, routing, milling, turning, thermo-forming equipment and 3D printing.

Shared Access

Access to other areas of the Faculty is arranged through workshops, however, Swansea College of Art has a policy of allowing students shared access to all of our facilities.