Creative Arts Weston

Welcome to Creative Arts Weston, we stand for innovation and skills for the future, sustainable and earth conscious practice, and a commitment to ensuring the highest standard of talent entering the creative industries. You will become part of our exciting and passionate creative community, and you will be perfectly placed to lead the way as part of the next creative generation.

Art, Design, Graphics and Fashion

Film & TV, Media Production, Photography & Game & Animation

Performing and Production Arts

Music

people having their picture taken in a studio

2 Weston super mare councillors, the Weston college principal, stand with learner and his art project

a gathering of people in a art exhibition hall

a learner and his alien looking art project

an octopus emerging from a chest art piece

a learner stands next to her octopus emerging from a chest art piece

a women stands next to her circular blue paintings

a women stands next to her abstract paintings

a women stands next to her mixture of paintings

a man plays the guitar and a man in a hat looks interested

Amazing Things

Happen Here

Our intention is that you will develop a portfolio of skills, connections, and insight to help you carve out the career you aspire to. You will gain industry experience by collaborating with professionals on unique and engaging projects that have been designed alongside employers to ensure that they are relevant to the industry, now and in the future. You will develop your skills and see them brought to life in front of real clients and audiences.

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Upcoming

Events

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'What Next?' 2026 - Careers Showcase for School Leavers

Why choose Weston?

Hear what our students have to say

LATEST NEWS

10 Apr 2025

Performing arts and Media students smiling

<a name="_Hlk195000405">Weston College </a><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; students have teamed up with Avon and Somerset Police to produce a powerful new short film to educate young people on bystander intervention in situations involving violence against women and girls (VAWG).<o:p></o:p>Led by Adrian Harris, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Lecturer at the College, the project brought together FE Performing Arts students from the Acting Pathway and Year 1 FE Media students. The collaborative piece, filmed in April following months of weekly planning sessions, seeks to raise awareness of how members of the public, particularly young people, can safely and effectively intervene in violent or abusive situations.<o:p></o:p><drupal-entity alt=""Media students filming performing arts students working on a scene"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1517e4fc-6aea-4052-9dcd-b04b18ec6cb9" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <o:p></o:p>Avon and Somerset Police delivered a briefing on the sensitive topic, sharing the project’s aims but offering students creative freedom. With professionalism and maturity, learners devised different approaches to intervention, enabling the Police to tailor the message to specific audiences and scenarios.<o:p></o:p>Rehearsals took place at Weston College’s Knightstone campus, with filming completed in the picturesque setting of Grove Park to lend authenticity and impact to the final production.<o:p></o:p>Adrian Harris, <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Lecturer, explained:<o:p></o:p>“The students have been brilliant. After watching the short films by Avon and Somerset Police, they expressed what worked and what didn’t, whether the message was clear or not, and offered original ideas and points of view to make it relevant to the younger generation.”<o:p></o:p>“The film will be shown to secondary school students - to help them deal with issues they come across and to show the different ways that, instead of being bystanders, they can be active contributors and help prevent violence against women and girls.”<o:p></o:p>This project forms part of the <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> and <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…; Careers Excellence Hubs. The College has fourteen sector-specific Career Excellence Hubs, which evidence our dedication to supporting both employers and learners in achieving their future goals. By creating a seamless connection between industry and education, we enable learners to acquire not only the essential skills and knowledge but also the professional networks necessary to excel in their chosen fields. <o:p></o:p>Participating students described the project as both educational and empowering.<o:p></o:p>Brooke, a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> Acting Pathway student, shared:<o:p></o:p>“I think it’s important for this type of film to be portrayed by young adults like us because relationships are so common in teens, and it’s critical to show that it’s not okay to display certain behaviours, and to get that message across early on because it could prevent serious situations from happening. It’s so important that young people learn about consent and respecting people’s boundaries.”<o:p></o:p>Patrick, a <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Theatre</a> student, added:<o:p></o:p>“This project teaches people how to not be a bystander in a situation where you may see violence against women. If I was in a real-life violent situation, I might have struggled knowing how to intervene but now I’ve gained an understanding of the different ways I can get involved and help.”<o:p></o:p>The project also offered invaluable professional development for students, many of whom were engaging in a professional filming environment for the first time. Working with a crew of directors, sound technicians, and photographers gave them real-world experience in following a brief, taking direction, and collaborating under pressure.<o:p></o:p><drupal-entity alt=""Media students filming performing arts students working on a scene"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="9c3d79a3-68df-4ea4-a83e-456d137b4754" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <o:p></o:p>This collaboration highlights the power of creative education in tackling real-world issues. By engaging with challenging topics like VAWG, our students are building professional skills and becoming advocates for positive change in their communities.<o:p></o:p>Thank you to Avon and Somerset Police for giving our students this fantastic opportunity!If you are passionate about education and are looking for an opportunity to join the staff team at a leading college, then look at the latest job vacancies available at Weston College <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/jobs?utm_source=main-menu&utm_medium=main-…; target="_blank">here</a>. You can find all the latest job opportunities that Weston College has to offer, with a commitment to providing quality education for learners and a focus on continuous professional development for staff, Weston College is an excellent place to work and grow in your career.

Students Create a Short Film For Avon & Somerset Police

20 Mar 2025

Guthrie Kennard performing on stage to the Music students

Last month, Guthrie Kennard, an American singer-songwriter from Texas, visited our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank">Music Performance and Production</a> learners, offering invaluable insight into the world of songwriting and performance. With over 60 years of experience in Old Blues and Southern country music, Guthrie brought not only his talent but also his wisdom, sharing stories from a lifetime dedicated to music. Guthrie has played bass for six decades and performed alongside legendary musicians like Larry Graham, Buddy Miles, Rocky Hill, and Ray Wylie Hubbard. From playing gigs in small intimate settings to massive crowds of 50,000 people during the peak of the blues movement, Guthrie had many amazing stories to share with our learners about his journey. His passion for music has never faltered, “I have more stories than I do money,” he admitted, and even at 74, he continues to play because it brings him joy and fulfilment. During his visit, Guthrie shared insights into the songwriting process. He emphasised the importance of originality in lyrics, advising students to avoid repetition and make every line unique. His songwriting process is also largely organic—he starts with chords and a melody, often relying on drum patterns to guide the rhythm.  While he doesn’t always plan albums in advance, he claims that he has a clear sense of the sound he wants to achieve. “I usually have a feeling of what an album will sound like, and I will write a song and decide that I need to keep it in that genre,” he explained. Guthrie finds inspiration for his songs originates from the world around him. “I listen to stories, so if I hear a line that inspires me, I will use it as a lyric,” he shared. However, he also admitted to struggling with writer’s block, encouraging the students to keep writing, whether it’s serious songs or silly and fun, every bit of creativity is progress. The students were captivated when Guthrie performed in our Michael Eavis music Suite at Loxton Campus. Many of our learners aspire for a lifetime career in music in the future, giving them a lot of encouragement and insight into their chosen industry.  Guthrie acknowledges that his age has slowed him down a bit and discussed the challenges he has faced over time, but his love for music has always outweighed the negatives and he doesn’t want to stop playing. “I love doing it, and it keeps me going. It’s something I’ve done since I was a kid. Even though it’s been hard, it’s also kept me alive.” During his visit, Guthrie praised Weston College’s facilities and the warmth of the students and staff, admitting that he was actually a bit nervous to be there. Guthrie’s insights and experiences provided the students with an honest, unfiltered look at the realities of being a musician. From handling criticism to navigating the financial struggles of the industry, he offered an abundance of knowledge that will undoubtedly help shape the future generation of artists.  We’d like to say a huge thank you to Guthrie Kennard for taking the time to visit us all the way from Texas and share his amazing journey and wisdom with our students. <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/music…; target="_blank">If you’re interested in applying to one of our Music and Production courses, click here.</a>

Live Performance and Q&A from Guthrie Kennard, a Musician from Texas

6 Mar 2025

Performing Arts students posing in front of the Broadway Dance Centre

Last month, Weston College was lucky enough to gain funding from the Turing Scheme to take our <a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… Arts</a> students on a 15-day trip to New York City, where students not only got to experience all the sights of a big city, but also got to take part in many activities and attractions that have furthered their skills and knowledge of the industry. <o:p></o:p>The Turing Scheme is a fantastic programme which offers funding to education providers to support students to pursue study and work placements worldwide. This provides learners with career-building opportunities and international experiences that will enhance their education and enrich them in different cultures. <o:p></o:p>This trip was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for many of the students who may not have had the chance to leave the UK, let alone travel across the world. Thanks to the Turing Scheme, this trip was extremely affordable, with some students getting to go completely free of charge!<o:p></o:p>During this 15-day trip, the students’ itineraries were jam-packed! Not only did they take part in a range of Broadway classes with the Broadway Dance Centre, but they also got to watch three Broadway shows which were tailored to each pathway! They saw ‘The Play That Goes Wrong’ for the students on the Acting pathway, ‘Death Becomes Her’ for the Musical Theatre pathway, and ‘The Great Gatsby’ for the Dance pathway. This was a fantastic experience that allowed all students to see live performances at a professional level which many of them aspire for.<drupal-entity alt=""Students posing in front of the 'The Play That Goes Wrong' sign"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d3a0da20-d99f-4c14-b9e2-c101470346f2" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <drupal-entity alt=""Students posing in front of 'The Great Gatsby' sign"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="5d443e8b-a8c6-42e2-9e93-942c57d08e87" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity><o:p></o:p>To further enrich themselves in the history of performing arts and experience all the city has to offer, the students took part in a range of activities: from a backstage tour of Radio City Music Hall, a guided tour of the Lincoln Centre, and visiting the Museum of Broadway, to attractions like ‘The Ride’ where they experienced flash mobs and pop-up shows, Summit One Vanderbilt observatory, and the powerful 9/11 Memorial Museum.<drupal-entity alt=""Students standing in front of 'The Ride' bus"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="98abbea4-1f4e-42f0-9ed1-a1c46a8c8bc9" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <o:p></o:p>Outside of these amazing activities, students also got the chance to see the tourist sights of New York and indulge in the different foods. However, according to the group, majority would agree that the Cheesecake Factory was ultimately the best they tried!<drupal-entity alt=""Students standing in front of The Cheesecake Factory"" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0da2cc7f-7955-4d0a-b3f2-74b76b58672a" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{"image_style":"max_500x500","image_link":"","image_loading":{"attribute":"lazy"}}"> </drupal-entity> <o:p></o:p>Joe Miller, one of our Performing Arts lecturers at Weston College who attended the trip with the students, was astounded by their progression over the duration of the trip, adding, “it was so amazing to see how the students progressed in not only their techniques and their performance, but also seeing their independence and confidence grow with everyday tasks. <o:p></o:p>We wanted to encourage independence for the students in a big city by getting them to chat to workers and people themselves, as well as independently navigate groups to places we’d been to give them a sense of accomplishment and confidence–it was amazing to see the personal growth in such a short space of time!”<o:p></o:p>This trip was not only important for personal growth, but also professional growth. Getting the chance to witness and work with many other performers and professionals throughout the trip gave the learners a better understanding of how competitive and tough the industry is and how much hard work and resilience is required to make it.<o:p></o:p>According to Joe, the impact of this trip has already been reflected in their hard work since arriving back home. He has noticed more rigorous training and a focus on techniques in order to improve their skills and pursue their careers.<o:p></o:p>This fantastic trip would not have been possible without Joe Miller, Jade Hicks and Annette Milburn who all supervised and helped to organise the trip to make it the most fulfilling and memorable experience for the students as possible.<o:p></o:p><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/perfo… you’re interested in applying to one of our Performing Arts courses in September, click here.</a><o:p></o:p>

Performing Arts Students Take a Once-in-a-Lifetime Trip to New York City