Creative Berlin Inspires Budding Artists

Twenty-five Strode College Art and Design students visited Berlin recently to seek inspiration for their work from the vibrancy and creativity of the city.

group photo Berlin WallRS

Foundation course manager and trip leader Duncan Cameron explained: “The educational visits we offer to students make a clear and positive impact on their work, in terms of vision and ambition. Following these exciting trips, the quality of work generated by students shows that they’ve become receptive to new imagery and concepts. I’m sure we’ll see Berlin references in the students’ work in the End of Year show, which opens 13th – 22nd June.”

The students enjoyed a full and varied itinerary and highlights for the students included the Story of Berlin museum, The Medical History Museum and the Berlin Wall, all providing a social historical perspective on Berlin and the development of the city.

Other visits included a trip to The Holocaust memorial at the Brandenburg Gate, contemporary art galleries and museums, including a fantastic collection of classical artefacts from Ancient Greece and Rome in the Altes Museum and the Pergamon.

Jamie Rochford, from Bruton and studying Foundation Art & Design said: “This was a really great trip. Berlin offered a wealth of material, from classical collections through to modern art. I found the visit to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp both fascinating and thought provoking. The Natural History Museum was a particularly enjoyable venue because of the breadth of the collection. It gave me many opportunities to draw and gather material for my art work.”

Isadora Carter, from Wells and studying  Level 3 Art & Design, said: “The Berlin trip gave us days packed with exciting venues. I found the contemporary art at Museum Hamburger Bahnhof and the many galleries at Museum Island particularly enjoyable and it gave me a chance to draw from the exhibits.”

Previous Art and Design trips have included visits to Florence, Barcelona, New York and Washington, Paris and Prague and next year’s trip is already in the planning stages. Duncan added: “We are currently considering New York as our destination for 2017.”