The induction fortnight is flying by. I will be officially beginning my course next week so I have been spending the past couple of days trying to prepare myself for study. I have studied other subjects before, but not anything so expressive and personal to me. I have moments when I feel completely overwhelmed. I try to create and my mind is blank. All I am able to write about is how much I like writing, and how much I am enjoying college life. Getting a support structure in

Once released, brand messages can be reinterpreted and woven into lived experience in ways that are often unpredictable. What initially looks like cynical marketing may, however subtly, contribute to a wider shift in what can be said, done, felt or imagined. Come along to No Easy Answers at 6pm on Weds 17th June and let us know what you think.

How wonderful it is to craft imaginary people in imaginary clothes, to entertain ears with meter and rhyme, and to stitch smiles and teardrops into script. What good are any of these, though, without a stage, without a group of people to listen, applaud, and, perhaps best of all, celebrate our way with words? Enter Bookmarked Magazine. Trumpets, please! We want trumpets.

When I started the course, one of the induction activities was to reflect on my motivations. Instantly I found I was reverting to my old ways of thinking, and I felt like I needed to have some sort of lofty goal. As I tapped backspace, I took a breath, and wrote “Writing saved my life”.

In the first of this series of posts on collaborative drawing, we discussed our drawn response to music created by exchanging a physical drawing through the post in reaction to Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. This time, we wanted to create a single drawing online while working simultaneously, albeit from different locations.

"I would say that studying with OCA quite often acted as a point of stability, so while everything else in life was changing, it was good to have a linear path and clear goals on the Visual Communications course." Read about Visual communications graduate Holly's learning journey.

Is masculinity in crisis? Why does this idea seem to recur across different historical periods? What is it that is so seductive about the manosphere? Can its portrayal of women shape the way its audiences understand relationships and gender roles? These and other questions will be under the spotlight in the next edition of No Easy Answers, a monthly discussion group that provides all OCA students with a space to have their say on some of the hot topics and critical issues of

"Walking in the landscape and taking photos has always seemed a natural combination to me, but last year I kept leaving my camera at home because 'I've already photographed that' (though it didn't seem to matter that I'd 'already walked there'). Needing a boost, I decided to sign up for the 10-week OCA/RPS online course Investigating Place with Psychogeography." Read Sarah's course review.

Happy Earth Day 2026. This year’s OCASA Summer of Sustainability is going to be a bit different. A group of participating tutors, from across OCA courses, is going to hold an online ‘round-table’ discussion about what sustainability means to them, their practice or their specialism. To start the video series you can view the presentations by Graphic Design Programme Tutor Dr Emma Powell and Creative Arts Programme Tutor Katrina Whitehead.

Monarchy will be under the spotlight in April’s edition of No Easy Answers, a monthly discussion group that provides all OCA students with a space to have their say on some of the hot topics and critical issues of the day.

Read about OCA Alumna Nina's journey from student to staff member.

I am Diane Goring, a recently completed BA Hons Fine Art student, having retired from Social Work I pursued my second passion, my love of art and have successfully completed my degree.

We are two BA Drawing students who have spent the past year developing three collaborative projects together. In this first post, we’re excited to share our response to Igor Stravinsky’s groundbreaking 1913 ballet score, The Rite of Spring.

I am a Textiles student at the OCA in my early 20s, unemployed, part of the chronic illness community, hoping to have a career in Textiles.

"I'm retired currently a Photography Student at the OCA living in the Ashdown Forest in the UK with my family." Read about Jonathan's learning journey below.

Happy 2026 everyone! If you would like to start the year with a sustainability-related resolution why not fill in the OCASA Sustainability: Project Audit Form.

For the last three years OCA's Joanne Mulvihill-Allen and Graphic Design PT Dr Emma Powell have organised a series of tutor-led sessions and activities as part of OCASA’s Summer of Sustainability. But in 2026 we are planning something a bit different...

Welcome to OCA's Study Tips in 5 series. In this instalment we bring you five tips to boost productivity and combat procrastination. Boosting your productivity and effectively combating procrastination involves understanding its root causes and implementing targeted strategies to overcome it.

UK Disability History Month (which this year runs from 20 November to 20 December) is an annual event to raise awareness about disabled people’s achievements.

We want your help in putting together an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion calendar for 2026.