The much-anticipated end of year student art and design Exhibition at Galway Technical Institute will take place today (Thursday ) at 7pm. Students of the art portfolio preparation, furniture making and design, fashion design, and interior design further education courses will display their paintings, drawings, sculptures, furniture, garments, and interior design portfolios. The exhibition will showcase the creativity, talent, and innovative ideas for which GTI students are renowned.
Galway Technical Institute has over the years become a byword for quality and high standards in the area of further education. The institute offers a total of 35 full-time post-Leaving Certificate courses of one and two year duration leading to FETAC Level 5 and Level 6 awards. Certification is also provided by ITEC, CIBTAC, Department of Education, Junior & Senior Trades, City & Guilds, FAI, and Apple. Tuition is free and students may qualify for maintenance grants. There are six main areas of study on offer at GTI, from healthcare and beauty to business courses as well as art and design, media, computing and engineering, sport and leisure, and a new distance learning programme in cultural and heritage studies.
The art portfolio preparation course provides students with an in depth visual education and exploration. It gives students a strong foundation for further study at third level in a variety of media, namely art, design, graphic communication, craft, architecture, and industrial design. A wide range of disciplines is covered including drawing, painting, sculpture, printmaking, and graphic design, as well as art history and communications. Students are introduced to the language, media, and processes of art and design. With tutorial guidance they select the area of specialisation they want to follow in their future careers. Recommended for post-Leaving Certificate students, this course is also suitable for mature students with little or no previous art education or experience.
Furniture making and design has proven to be a very popular course over the years. It is designed to prepare students for career opportunities in the furniture industry in design, retail or manufacturing. The course covers such areas as woodcraft, woodturning, woodcarving, inlay and marquetry, upholstery, and restoration.
Likewise the interior design course aims to develop and enhance the student’s innate ability in this rapidly growing sector. It enables students to prepare a professional portfolio for presentation to prospective employers or clients. Modules include colour and light, drawing, interior draughtsmanship, art and craft appreciation, combined materials, and work experience in an area relevant to the course. On completion of this course students may pursue further studies in institutes of technology or may progress to one of the many colleges in the UK that specialise in interior design.
The Fashion Design course prepares students for entry to third level education and covers such areas as drawing, garment construction, design, pattern drafting, combined materials, and graphics. Last year GTI fashion design student Veronica Casserly was the overall winner in the Gillette Design the Dress of Your Dreams competition, which received national media coverage. This is the fourth consecutive year that GTI fashion has been represented in major national design competitions.
The exhibition will be launched at 7pm today and will be open to the public on Friday, Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 10am to 4pm daily. This is a must-see exhibition for anyone interested in viewing the work of our future designers in fashion, interiors, and furniture as well as talented emerging artists.
Enrolment is now taking place for all courses commencing in September 2009.
For more information or to request a prospectus outlining all of the courses on offer contact Galway Technical Institute on (091 ) 581342 or www.gti.ie
