Centre of excellence for

In our Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts you’ll gain all the skills you need for a stimulating design and visual arts career. Jobs in this sector are expected to increase by at least 20 per cent in Greater Manchester over the coming years, creating plenty of opportunities for designers and artists to turn their passion into a career.

You’ll learn a range of creative disciplines and work on live briefs set by media companies, digital agencies and advertising firms. You’ll also have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment including printmaking equipment, fashion garment pattern cutting areas, ceramics studio and darkrooms.

Depending on your level of study you will also complete up to 2 weeks' work experience with one or more than one employer; this can either be completed in separate days throughout your course or in a single block. You’ll also receive dedicated ‘employability’ sessions that will equip you with the skills that you’ll need to thrive in the workplace.

When you complete your journey in our Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts you will have all the skills you need to be ‘work ready’ and the qualifications you need to take the next steps towards an amazing career.

Available Courses

While studying at our Centre of Excellence you can obtain qualifications ranging from Entry Level and Level 3 certificates through to Extended Diplomas. If you haven’t already obtained a Grade 4 GCSE in English or maths you’ll also study to achieve this level of qualification, which is a mandatory requirement of your course and essential for many careers.

In our Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts you’ll develop an in-depth knowledge of this sector and gain work experience with industry leaders.

View all available courses for this subject area

Career
Outcomes

Studying in our Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts, you'll finesse your craft and gain skills that will enable to turn your creative flare into a career in this exciting sector. These range from fashion designers, where on average you would earn £27,000 a year, to art therapists, where you would earn an average of £41,700 a year

Partners

We aim to bring together industry professionals and our talented students to help secure the best possible future for our students. These partnerships include:

Bee Thrive

The Bee Thrive are an ethical Clothing Company with a twist, bringing awareness and fairness throughout the whole supply chain process.

Mustard Tree

Mustard Tree operates across Greater Manchester, providing food, clothing furniture and training for individuals in need.

Gallery

Explore our gallery. From our outstanding facilities to fantastic work placement opportunities, get a taste of what it’s like working in the industry and see what you can expect from studying at The Manchester College.

Our tutors are great. They have really supported me to keep on track with my work and projects ensuring I hit deadlines. They give us so much information and advice about our future career goals. Its great to talk to them because they are so knowledgeable.
Derek Ahiamadi

People pointing at artwork in an exhibit

Download subject area guide

Find out more about our fantastic courses, outstanding facilities and the career options available to you. Download the subject area guide.

Download PDF

join us at our NEXT OPEN event

Book your place at our next open event to learn all about our Centre of Excellence for Visual Arts, meet our tutors, tour facilities and hear about all the opportunities that come with studying Visual Arts at The Manchester College.

Register now