<p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Tyntesfield National Trust has been brought to life this festive season with a stunning collaborative display that celebrates history, community, and creativity. The ‘Christmas Past’ display includes nine unique Christmas trees designed and crafted by our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank">Level 3 Art and Fashion</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> learners as part of the "Re-imagining Christmas" project. This initiative is a multidisciplinary effort showcasing the talents of artists and communities across North Somerset, supported by the National Trust and Super Culture.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The ‘Christmas Past’ display at Tyntesfield reflects the estate’s historical richness, blending modern artistic interpretations with the stories of the Gibbs family and the estate’s beautiful gardens. Over 250 participants, many visiting Tyntesfield for the first time, have contributed to this creative display, making it a true community effort.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Our students embraced the challenge, drawing inspiration from their visit to the estate where they explored the house and gardens, soaking in the intricate details of objects, artifacts, and landscapes. Once they were back in the studio, they worked collaboratively in groups to translate their inspiration into a forest of imaginative trees. Each tree reflects the estate’s natural beauty and Victorian heritage, while also addressing deeper themes of Christmas like celebration and solitude.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Sustainability also played a key role in the project with the students using reclaimed materials to construct their trees, decorating them with thoughtful details like paper ornaments, embroidery, collages, spray-painted accents, and fake snow. This eco-conscious approach not only highlights the importance of reducing waste during the festive season but also adds a unique handcrafted charm to the display.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Christmas trees made by the learners on display outside Loxton campus&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="194ab497-7aae-4b1c-9d9f-ea467c025eaf" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This project was supported by the National Trust and Super Culture, with the students' work being part of a bigger body of artwork created by diverse community groups from Weston, including Alliance Homes, Weston Adults Affected by Addiction, Children of Weston Southward, and Friends of Grove Park. This project was also put in motion and assisted by one of our Art and Design lecturers, Ronnie Houselander-Cook, who assisted the learners with every step of this project and made it all possible.</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This year’s Christmas display at Tyntesfield celebrates creativity, sustainability, and collaboration, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in a thoughtfully reimagined holiday experience. The students’ trees represent community and bring history and tradition into a modern, meaningful context.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Thank you to Tyntesfield National Trust and Super Culture for making this event possible and giving our learners a chance, but also well done to our learners for taking this project in stride and creating a Christmas display to be proud of.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:16px;margin-left:0;margin-top:16px;"><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank">If you are interested in applying to one of our Art and Fashion courses next September, click here.</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">&nbsp;</span></p>

<p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Students from various subjects, including </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank">Health and Social Care</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; target="_blank">Sport and Fitness</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank">Art and Design</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, and </span><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</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">,&nbsp;came together to host a memorable Christmas Fair this holiday season, raising funds for Weston Hospice Care. With festive games, delicious treats, and heart-warming activities, the event brought together the public, students, and staff for a day filled with joy, fun, and community spirit.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">This event was publicised to local charities, hospices and care homes to bring them together this Christmas and get them in the festive spirit. All our games and activities were made to be accessible and inclusive so some of our guests gave our Christmas games a go and won a handful of chocolates.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The learners played a significant role in making the Christmas fair a success. The day featured free festive games for both the staff and the visitors, including&nbsp;throwing 'snowballs’ at reindeer cups, magnetic darts, Christmas bingo, and hoop toss onto reindeer antlers. Guests also enjoyed arts and crafts sessions with pipe cleaners, pompoms, wreath kits, and colouring activities, alongside unique handmade ornaments created by Art and Design learners.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Resident throwing a snowball at reindeer cups&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="16e3fc70-d10c-4d15-9be7-2f95dfa60808" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The event offered something for everyone: a lively ‘Strictly Just Dance’ session judged by students, yoga, accessible walking football, and running football. The tombola and raffle raised money with its abundance of prizes, while the Craft Café served tea, coffee, cakes, and savoury bites. Guests could also get tinselled hair and enjoy live performances by Music students, set to a soundtrack of classic Christmas tunes.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;3 learners with raffle prizes selling raffle tickets&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c9db52e2-c1ba-4adc-832d-f785af5b0197" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Students and residents playing Christmas Bingo&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="1f948fbf-a6a6-4ee0-a581-9b9c99ecc027" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Music learner singing and playing the guitar to an audience&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="17110a45-e6fa-4566-abdf-b6dc8c47fa3c" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The Christmas Fair was dedicated to raising funds for Weston Hospice Care, with proceeds from raffles, the tombola, handmade ornaments, and donations supporting the hospice’s vital work. Residents and staff from Weston Hospice Care, Acer House, Orchard House, and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston attended, adding to the festive atmosphere. Special guests included the Mayor of Weston-Super-Mare and, of course, Santa Claus himself.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">One of our guests, Laura, said, “it was a very enjoyable morning. My favourite part of the day was the young man playing the guitar.”&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">The entire event was made even more festive as students and staff wore Christmas jumpers and accessories, creating a cheerful and welcoming environment. Learners enthusiastically led activities and engaged with visitors, ensuring smiles and laughter filled the day. It was a celebration of togetherness and a wonderful way to support a meaningful cause during the holiday season.&nbsp;</span></p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;Learners with Christmas photo props&quot;" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="31565b3d-8e40-4da6-b6b8-38c3b171328b" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_500x500&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;">&nbsp;</p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">Thank you to everyone who attended our Christmas Fair and celebrated the festive season with us, and thank you to our learners for stepping up and helping with the event.&nbsp;</span></p><p style="margin-bottom:8px;margin-left:0;margin-top:0px;"><span style="font-size:inherit;">If you are interested in applying to one of our </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/healt…; target="_blank">Health and Social Care</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/sport…; target="_blank">Sport and Fitness</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, </span><a href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; rel="noreferrer noopener" title="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/art-d…; target="_blank">Art and Design</a><span style="font-size:inherit;">, or </span><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</a><span style="font-size:inherit;"> courses next September, click here.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Recently, we welcomed Boris Zamba from the band Voodoo Ramble to the Michael Eavis Suite at Loxton Campus, performing live alongside The Blue Horizon, one of our very own alumni bands. Together, these two groups merged elements of the UK blues scene with Croatian influences, offering our Year 2 cohort of Level 3 <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat…, Film, and Creative Production</u></a> students the chance to develop their skills in a real-world setting through live performance and hands-on music production.&nbsp;</p><p>The TV, Film, and Creative Production students were immersed in numerous performance-making opportunities, while also showcasing their expertise by capturing footage of the event. Our <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds/creat… and Commercial Photography</u></a> students documented every moment, working collaboratively to curate a fully produced live album and video, demonstrating their technical skills and artistic talent.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><drupal-entity alt="&quot;music student producing live album&quot;" data-align="center" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a50988f6-33fd-4cb6-b2c6-904cdf5afd0f" data-embed-button="file_browser" data-entity-embed-display="image:image" data-entity-embed-display-settings="{&quot;image_style&quot;:&quot;max_900x900&quot;,&quot;image_link&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_loading&quot;:{&quot;attribute&quot;:&quot;lazy&quot;}}">&nbsp;</drupal-entity><p>&nbsp;</p><p>The Blue Horizon anchored the rhythm section, supported by two of our Music students on backing vocals. This performance was a remarkable success, featuring dynamic collaboration led by music legend Boris Zamba on guitar and lead vocals. Despite facing some unexpected technical challenges, the students demonstrated resilience and professionalism, earning praise from the audience and guest performers alike.&nbsp;</p><p>Jade Hicks, our Head of Performance and Production, reflected on the experience: “This project has been an exceptional opportunity for students to learn the end-to-end process of creating a commercial release.” She emphasised that students gained invaluable industry skills, including “technical setup, live sound engineering, visual capture, and post-production.”&nbsp;</p><p>The event showcased phenomenal performances by the music students, The Blue Horizon, and Boris Zamba. Through this practical industry experience, students not only enhanced their confidence in performing but also opened doors for future networking opportunities in their musical journeys.&nbsp;</p><p>This partnership forms part of the Creative Arts Careers Excellence Hub. 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.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><p>To see more about our Creative Arts courses, <a class="ProsemirrorEditor-link" href="https://www.weston.ac.uk/what-can-i-study/courses-16-18-year-olds-creat… here</u></a>.&nbsp;</p><p><strong>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&nbsp;here. 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.</strong></p>