Uni Interviews update 26th February

In late January I received notification of interviews for Birmingham, Bath Spa and Derby.  I set out putting a portfolio together.   I had no clue whether I had to start creating brand new work for it so was guided by Emma Strange and Sue.   I put together a portfolio of work from diploma and degree courses, which included actual work, photographs and a written piece which Bath Spa asked to be done on contemporary art and that could be a recent exhibition attended.  I had been to see On My Mother's Knee in January so I wrote the follow piece which I then had checked over by Emma to see how it read.

I have attended Birmingham and Derby interviews.   Birmingham for textile design and Derby for Fine Art.

On the day of the Birmingham interview the word design as in textile design hit me.   I put Birmingham in as my last option and in hindsight textile design is not the course for me.   The interview itself though was a very positive experience.  The building and facilities were great as they have a brand new building.  The staff were also helpful, positive and knowledgeable.   The feedback I received from two tutors was that they felt by missing out year 1 I would be missing the design process and therefore they would suggest I come in at year 1.   I'm not keen to do that as I dont have funding for another 3 years, and also it's a completely different route for me.   If I hadn't done the FDa CAP then I would probably go there and try designing.  However, given that I've now done two years, I will continue down the route i'm doing which is being more of a creative/artist and not a designer.  Birmingham also said I had a good portfolio and I came across well.

Today I went to Derby for the Fine Art interivew.   This interview was tougher than Birmingham I feel.  I was asked to pick one piece of work and talk about it, the thinking behind it, where I could take it to next were I to continue with it?.   I was asked why fine art and not textiles, what my favourite film is and what book i had last read.   I was convinced I wasn't what they were looking for and therefore surprised when they offered me a place on year 2, which is what I had applied for.

I have the Bath interview in a couple of weeks as I postponed it from last week.   Birmingham is not going to be an option for the reasons I have said above.

I have come out of my interviews feeling good about myself and my work.