Community art portfolio clinics sponsored by Maxwell MacLaurin – news release

November 2007

The Glasgow School of Art is internationally recognised as one of the UK’s leading centres for the study and advancement of fine art, design and architecture. Widening participation is a key strategic objective and they’re engaged in a number of project and initiatives designed to encourage and support students in applying to higher education.

The School believes that access to higher education should be based on talent, potential and ability – not postcodes. With the support of Maxwell MacLaurin, the GSA will be holding portfolio clinics in community centres and libraries to enable anyone who is considering a creative programme of study in further or higher education, to benefit from the advice of GSA tutors and student ambassadors. They will provide advice on their portfolios, potential programmes of study and career options. The project will run for three years and cover the West of Scotland. It builds upon existing successful Portfolio Clinics within schools, funded through the GOALs (Greater Opportunity to Access Learning in Schools) project.

The GSA’s studio-based learning environment, and one-to-one teaching, results in one of the lowest student drop-out rates in the UK. It has produced many of Scotland’s leading contemporary artist of the last generation, was cited by Design Week as one of its HOT 50 – a leader in design education, and is ranked by the Architect’s Journal as the leading architecture school in Scotland and third in the UK.

Maxwell MacLaurin’s sponsorship extends for three years – look out for the regular progress reports.