For blog of the week this month we look to Gesa Helms’ pain and the pastoral. This is not so much a OCA learning log as an artist’s reflective notebook and it is fascinating for it. Rather than polished mini-articles we get snippets of thoughts and associations. Many of these thoughts turn to colour,...
As promised for all those budding authors at OCA we have part two of the interview with literary agent Philippa Milnes-Smith. In this installment Philippa talks about how to make your work standout from the 50 plus manuscripts her agency receives every week and what to expect from an agent should your work be...
On the same day that we filmed the interview with Jacqueline Wilson, the intrepid duo of Livi Michael and myself braved the egg throwers of London (don’t ask!) once more to interview literary agent Philippa Milnes-Smith. Philippa has many years experience in the publishing industry including time as the Managing Director of Puffin books...
One of the vivid memories of my youth is sitting down on a chair on which my father had placed a much treasured vinyl (78 rpm) recording of Purcell’s Trumpet Voluntary. Needless to say, it was smashed to smithereens (a technical term). The key question was whether I would be able to sweep up...
Good news for current and potential music students at the OCA! We have commissioned Carla Rees to write a new Level 1 Music course. Gareth’s recent interview with Carla gives some fascinating background on her interests, including her pioneering work on the 21st century flute repertoire and developments with the instrument itself (alto and...
Art in Action is an extraordinary event. It’s a 4-day celebration of the arts and crafts held every July in the grounds of Waterperry House, somewhere near Oxford, and attracts some 25,000 visitors. Marquees house displays of paintings, sculptures, woodwork, textiles, ceramics, metalwork, glass and jewellery. 400 top artists, designer makers, musicians and performers...
The OCA is working hard on designing an MA and hopes to launch it in January 2011. This is an exciting new venture for OCA and we anticipate significant interest in it, judging on the feedback we have had from the students we have asked. The programme will be different from existing OCA provision...
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