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Express course

The Faculty of Telšiai (Vilnius Academy of Arts) is hosting a Cirrus express course: “Ceramic shell bronze casting”.

Teachers: David Snoo Wilson (Royal College of Art, UK) 
Level: BA/MA
Teaching period: from the 17^th of March to 27^th of March, 2020. 
ECTS: 3 ECTS
Number of available place for Cirrus students: 5
Muziejaus st. 29a, Telšiai (270 km away from Vilnius), Lithuania
Grant: 330 EUR travel / 660 EUR Iceland travel+70 EUR weekly

The Jewellery and Metal department of the Academy of Arts will host a workshop on the process of lost-wax casting in bronze, using the ceramic shell method. The course will be taught by David Snoo Wilson, formerly of the Royal College of Art foundry. Students from all Cirrus institutions are invited to attend the course.

Course Content:

The materials will cost 20 Euro for each participant after arrival. 

The course aims to provide an introduction an understanding to the methods and materials of ceramic shell bronze casting; students will be guided in safely taking their sculpted or cast wax form towards a finished, small bronze object or sculpture. This includes: 

-Overview of the foundry process
-Mould making
-Wax working
-Using ceramic shell for investment
-How to set up a small foundry
-pouring of hot metal
-finishing and basic platination 

The course is led over ten days, allowing time to experiment with materials and process, so the scale of the sculptures should be manageable within the time: the size of a hand or smaller. Students will develop their ideas, each applying the principles to their own practice towards a new work in the medium, discussing and displaying them together. 

Students are asked to direct their work towards the chosen theme: ‘Alchemy and Foundry: The Transformative Power of Fire and the Furnace’. During the course, talks relating to the content will take place. 

Applications should include your name, surname, home school, study year and level, a motivation statement (max 250 words), a link to your portfolio and CV and phone number.
All applications should be sent to r.vaitkute@gmail.com

EXTENDED Deadline to apply: March 2, 2020 

About the teachers: 

David Snoo Wilson is a founder and artist that has been teaching  bronze casting for the last 10 years, most recently at the Royal College of Art, London, UK. Uniquely at the heart of his studio practice is the beautiful alchemy of melting metal. Specializing in bell casting and surrounding technology, he uses a mobile foundry to cast bells in many locations outside of the traditional industrial set up, creating a spectacle and a show. 

CALL for project applications to Nordplus Higher Education Programme through CIRRUS network
DEADLINE: January 16, 2020, to be sent to sandra.mell@artun.ee

The Nordplus programme has shifted its deadline and is now February 1, (used to be March 1).
By January 16, 2020 we kindly ask your project descriptions along with the budget file in order to insert it in the application system of Nordplus. Please use Nordplus Handbook (pages 26 – 34) or turn to CIRRUS coordinator to find out more.

The type of projects that we are waiting for are:
1. INTENSIVE COURSES (please use the forms below)
Download application form
Download budget form
2. JOINT STUDY PROGRAMMES (please use the forms below)
Download application form
Download budget form
3. DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS (please use the forms below)
Download application form
Download budget form

The project proposals will be evaluated by Nordplus project evaluation committee. If your project gets funding, you can use the grant from June 15, 2020 – September 30, 2021. It is possible to apply for projects that last for up to 3 years.

MORE IN DETAIL: (copied from NP handbook)

Intensive courses
Nordplus Higher Education awards grants for intensive courses lasting between one week (five working days) and one month. Courses may take place during term time or in the summer by way of short courses, symposiums, master classes or workshops. Intensive courses must include students and academic staff from at least three different countries. The courses must yield ECTS points and must be recognised as part of the students’ degree. The number of ECTS points should be stated in the application.
PhD students may act as teachers on intensive courses. They are not eligible for a grant if they are students in the programme. The same intensive course can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted. It is recommended that the hosting institution is rotated.

Examples of past CIRRUS intensive courses:
Urban Gaming
Nature Design and Innovation. Imprint
Traditions and Innovation

Joint study programmes
Nordplus Higher Education awards grants for development of joint study
programmes.
Nordplus joint study programmes are defined as follows:
– Programmes are full-degree study programmes established according
to national legislation.
– Programmes lead to a degree recognised by national authorities.
– Degree certificates with a Diploma Supplement are issued according to
national legislation.
– Mobility is integrated into the programme setup.
– Programmes are developed jointly, and all courses and study units
should be approved by all participating parties.
– The collaborative venture is governed by a signed agreement defining
its aims as well as the roles of the participating parties.
The same joint study programme can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted. Joint study programmes are complex processes. HEIs can combine Nordplus and Nordic Master grants in various ways. More information on Nordic Master is available on www.nordicmaster.org. The website consists
also of many useful handbooks and guides on joint programmes.

Development projects
Nordplus Higher Education offers grants for innovative development projects within the field of Higher Education.
Apart from joint curriculum planning and joint
modules, projects may focus on issues such as:
– Collaboration with the labour market
– Quality assurance
– The dissemination and use of results achieved by networks and projects
– The development of collaborations with other institutions in the public
or private sectors as well as non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
within Higher Education
– The development of new teaching methods.
The same project can be granted Nordplus funding for three consecutive years but annual applications must be submitted.