CEAD Summer Programme

Join us in Summer 2025, meet other artists and students and become part of a vibrant contemporary art community


James Farrell  Botanical Garden 2022

Summer Programme

Bookings Open Late April 2025

Join us in June and July 2025 for three weeks of creativity
3 and 5 day short courses in art, design and photography
3 week Summer Portfolio Preparation
 
Bookings to be made in the STUDENT name and details only
Students attending NCAD must be age 16 or over.
Some courses are for students age 18 years old* or over
 
If you have been at NCAD previously use your MyNCAD account
To reset your password contact studentrecords@staff.ncad.ie and include your name, date of birth and 8 digit student ID/reference number
New students click to book, then select New Account & keep your password safe
Bookings are online only and on a first come basis
When your course of choice is full, we will add a Waitlist
Before you apply for your summer short course, please read the updated bookings and refunds information and Terms & Conditions carefully
Classes run 10am to 4pm, lunchtimes are arranged by your tutor 
Join the CEAD Mailing List to receive updates
 
Date
 
Duration
Course Name
 Code   
Fees 2025
Bookings are Online Only
10am to 4pm 
 
 
 
   Bookings Open Mid April
Week One
 
 
 
 
 
  
16 to 20 June
5 days
*Please note Students must be age 18 for this course
SDP107
320
  
16 to 20 June
5 days
SDP111
320
  
Week Two
23 June to 10 July
13 days over 3 weeks
All Students attending NCAD must be age 16
**I Can Teach Free Places, details below
SPRE
460
  
23 to 27 June 5 days Introduction to Printed Textiles SD601 320  
23 to 27 June 5 days Photography and Digital Imaging SVC119 320  
23 to 27 June
5 days
SCD603
300
  
23 to 25 June
3 days
SS302
230
  
23 to 25 June
3 days
SDP103
200
  
23 to 27 June
5 days
*Please note Students must be age 18 for this course
SDP127
320 
  
23 to 27 June
5 days
*Please note Students must be age 18 for this course
SDP109
330
  
23 to 27 June 5 Days Jewellery Techniques SCD121 320  
Week Three
30 June to 4 July 5 days Stained Glass SCD118 385  
30 June to 4 July 5 days
*Please note Students must be age 18 for this course
 SDP108 330  
30 June to 2 July
3 days
SP115
230
  
30 June to 2 July
3 days
 SDP102
200
  
1 to 4 July 3 Days Painting Processes II SDP113 200  
2 to 4 July
3 days
SDP104
200
  

**There are Free Places on Portfolio Preparation as part of the I Can Teach inititive. To find out if you are eligible and to apply CLICK HERE

          

   

Continuing Education in Art and Design CEAD at NCAD offers a range of short summer courses in art and design for adults and school leavers who want to explore their creative potential, learn new skills or develop an on-going practice. All students must be age 16 to attend NCAD.
Summer courses are at different levels; there are introductory courses suitable for beginners or for those considering returning to or progressing within higher education. If you want to learn something new you can choose beginners courses and if you have established an arts practice and want to continue to expand and explore your options you can choose advanced courses.
Portfolio Preparation courses are suitable for students age 16 and over who are making their application portfolio for applying to third level undergraduate art and design courses.
Students interested in applying to the accredited part-time autumn courses or who want to progress within art and design can consider taking summer workshops as a way of developing skills and knowledge in a subject area. 


Progression

 
Learn more about Progression in art, design and photography through CEAD. From introductory summer or autumn short courses, find out how to advance to level 8 in evening school and be elegible to apply to the final year of the undergraduate BA degree course.

Fees

Applications will be processed only on receipt of full payment of course fee.

Terms & Conditions

Please read our FAQ's and Terms & Conditions carefully before applying for a CEAD course. 
 

  

Stained Glass

Code SCD118
Lecturer  Patricia Plunkett
 
This five-day course provides tuition in technique and design with an appreciation of traditional stained glass leadwork, copperfoiling, painting and complementary techniques such as sandblasting. The course might be of interest to those already working in the art or design field as it provides hands on experience and guidance to art and design production. For the advanced student, there is an emphasis on project design and development of more advanced skills using the glass department and the library facilities. Each student is encouraged to undertake their own individual projects throughout the course. Beginners or advanced are both welcome.

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Sculpture: Material and Techniques

Code SS302
Lecturer Vivian Hansbury
 
During the course the emphasis will be on developing ideas through exploration and experimenting with sculpture media. The tutor will encourage students to discuss the processes involved in sculpture making and how these processes can be applied and used in contemporary practice. The aim of this three-day course is to introduce students to basic sculpture techniques, including mould-making, 3D construction using found object and mixed media, casting in plaster and wax and surface finish. This course will also include discussion about contemporary artists who work with media and processes introduced during this course. Students are encouraged to use library facilities to research artists and processes. The tutor will demonstrate a variety of techniques and processes and encourage a group approach to learning to promote a good working environment. Students are advised to come to the course with ideas or images that they may want to use as a starting point. The course is suited to those who wish to develop a good understanding of basic sculpture making techniques and who wish to develop their concept, ideas and skills. The course is also suitable for those wishing to attend the autumn courses CEAD1006, CEAD1013 and SS302.

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Photography & Digital Imaging

Code SVC119
Lecturer David Monahan
 
This five-day course is ideal for both beginners and improvers. Through a range of exercises and projects students will learn fundamental aspects of the digital imaging processes. The tutor will explain the terminology of photography: f-stops, shutter speeds, depth of field and introduce you to the do's and don'ts of composition, lighting, editing and presentation. Students will be advised about a variety of approaches to portraiture using available light sources. This small group will go out on location most days weather permitting. At the end of the week the combination of workshops and practice will have greatly enhanced your understanding of how to use your camera more effectively and you will have insights into different approaches to creating good quality images and  improving your existing abilities. This course is suitable for those considering applying for part-time certificate courses at CEAD such as The University Certificate in Photography and Digital Imaging.

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Introduction to Printed Textiles

Code SD601
Lecturer Mel Bradley
Technician Triona Glennon
 
This course will introduce students to the various ways of printing and mark making on fabrics. Students will learn the basic technical skills required to be able to
 
Silk Screen Print using paper stencils
Transfer Print
Painted Screen Process
Multiprocessing
 
Students will have the opportunity to print on both natural and man-made fabrics with design playing an integral part of the course. Students will be required to pursue their own themes and ideas. With the tutors help students will develop these ideas into designs suitable for any or all of the printing processes taught. Elements of colour, design, layout, scale and texture will be explored. By the end of the course students will have a notebook filled with samples that will be a source of inspiration should they wish to continue studying art and design. Fabrics are not included in the course fee. Samples of fabric will be available to buy form the tutor.
This course is suited for professional individuals wishing to develop and acquire additional skills and knowledge, individuals wishing to pursue personal interests and individuals who have an art practice and wish to explore and learn new skills. This course is suitable for those considering applying for part-time certificate courses at CEAD, module CEAD1011 Printed Textile Design.

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Basic Techniques in Drawing & Painting

Code SDP107
Lecturer Tadhg McGrath
 
Please note Students must be age 18 and over for this course
 
The aim of this course is to improve and develop the student’s core skills in drawing and painting. This five-day course provide a comprehensive instruction course in basic techniques. The course is suitable for those who want to return to art making after a gap or for those who have had limited practical experience and want to acquire and work on basic skills in a way that will assist their transition into education and art work. The course includes demonstrations and workshops. It will include two long sessions on life drawing and painting from life as well as a workshop on portraits. Ways to approach getting a likeness, simple drawing, painting skills and many other set exercises and practical activities are included in the course. Subjects covered include drawing from observation, life drawing, colour theory and paint mixing, mark making, painting from life, understanding basic composition and other basic aspects of painting and drawing.

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Colour Mixing Workshop

Code SDP103
Lecturer Mary Burke
 
The purpose of this three-day course is to introduce students to basic colour theory as it relates to painting and to provide a better understanding of how colours react with one another. This course will involve a series of exercises to give students a clear understanding of the colour wheel, primary and secondary colours, complementary colours, mixing neutrals, colour temperature and colour contrast. During the course each student will build a personal library of colour mixes which will act as a reference for future painting projects undertaken in classes or at home. This experience should provide the beginner with the necessary confidence to start painting and  improve the work of more experienced students. This course is suitable for both beginners and advanced students who wish to learn more about colour. This course is suitable for those considering applying for part-time certificate courses at CEAD.

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The Drawing Challenge

Code SDP127
Lecturer Róisín Lewis
 
Please note Students must be age 18 and over for this course
 
'The basis of all painting and sculpture is drawing' John Berger
The aim of this course is to develop and improve student's core drawing skills. The course provides thorough grounding in drawing techniques and consequently will appeal to all levels from the beginner to the more experienced student. In tutoring students in the ways of seeing and fostering confidence in drawing processes, this course will give students the fundamental drawing skills which are the foundation of every other discipline: painting, sculpture, printmaking or design. Through practical exercises and with one-to-one tuition, students will examine drawing by expermenting with a range of materials and media. They will explore a variety of vital areas including portraiture, life drawing, still life and the built and natural environment. A  model will be present for one day. Students will benefit from the use of the excellent NCAD library which shall be used as a resource to reference artists' work. Drawing takes place both in studio and on location.

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Collage & Mixed Media

Code SDP104
Lecturer Margaret Fitzgibbon
 
This course is suited to beginners as well as those who are experienced and wish to explore new ways of working and new ways of expressing ideas through non-traditional mediums. Collage and Mixed Media shows how, through experimentation with space, line, texture, colour shape, form and playing with the written word, it is possible to create rich evocative imaginary work. During this three-day course, each student will create a series of collages in many different materials and configurations.  Collage is a process of cutting and tearing paper and other materials which when put in new relationships with each other create new arrangements.   Three-dimensional organic or prefabricated materials and found objects from the everyday world can be included in these compositions.  Through such processes familiar materials are brought into unconventional arrangements that are often unexpected, playful, poetic and lyrical or arresting. No prior experience of the subject is required to undertake the course as it is presented in step-by-step stages to allow the individual student to find their own pace to discover personal and inventive approaches to the art form within a group dynamic of sharing and discussing ideas and techniques.

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Drawing and Painting Contemporary Atelier

Intermediate/Advanced 
Code SDP108
Lecturer Kenneth Donfield
 
Please note Students must be age 18 and over for this course
 
The aim of this course is to increase student’s confidence in their technical abilities, through in-depth examination of different techniques that are employed in current practices of drawing and painting today. There will be a solid emphasis on drawing within the course, as drawing is a convenient and expressive means of evolving a composition and of recording visual information for translation into another medium later on. The course allows for sustained and intense concentration with the freedom to experiment and revise. It will begin with a series of studies from a variety of poses exploring tone, colour, light, space, composition and pictorial structure. Through concentrated observation and the study of traditional and contemporary approaches, students will be encouraged to interpret their individual vision and talents. The drawings and paintings of the great artists from past and present will be looked at and discussed during the course. Students may choose to work in oils, acrylics, or watercolours. Teaching will be on an individual as well as collective basis. There will be a life model in attendance from Tuesday to Friday.

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The Urban Landscape

Introductory/Intermediate 
Code SDP102
Lecturer Mary Burke
 
This three-day painting course will give students the opportunity to experience the process of drawing and painting an urban environment directly from observation in a safe supervised location on the NCAD campus. Students will receive step-by-step guidence in selecting a subject, making thumbnail sketches, scaling up on site, colour mixing and gathering revelant information for further development in the studio. On completion of this course students should have gained an understanding of what is involved in painting on site, and out of doors. This course should act as a catalyst for continued study through other courses and or further drawing and painting in the student's own time. The course is suitable for beginers as well as more experienced students.

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Drawing & Research in Sketchbooks

Code SDP111
Lecturer Laura Conway
 
'Drawing a line to an idea is the fundamental activity of the artist' Dorothy Cross.
 
The aim of this drawing course is to develop the student's skill in the practice of keeping a sketchbook. Visual research and developing ideas in sketchbooks is considered an integral part of an artist's work. Through making a series of sketches you can visually explore subject matter that you are curious about or have a personal interest in. This course will appeal to students with some drawing experience and to the more experienced students. It is especially beneficial for students wishing to go back to college and those applying to the certificate courses offered by CEAD in the Autumn. Students will draw from the built and natural environment. Drawing takes place both in studio and on location at NCAD and the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
This course is suitable for those considering applying for part-time certificate courses at CEAD.

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Contemporary Portrait Painting 

Code SDP109
Lecturer Kenneth Donfield
 
Please note Students must be age 18 and over for this course
 
This one week course covers both classical and contemporary techniques in drawing and painting portraits.  The tutor Kenneth Donfield will provide demonstrations in approaches to drawing and painting from life and students will be guided from initial preliminary sketches and drawings toward more resolved work. Advice and guidance will be given on the use and application of different materials for painting portraits. For portrait painting, students can focus on head and shoulders or a three quarter length portrait. Students may paint in oil, acrylics or watercolour during the one week course. 

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Painting Processes II 

Completing Unfinished Paintings

Code SDP113
Lecturer Paul MacCormaic

 
Do you have paintings that you have commenced but have left to one side? This intensive painting workshop is suited to individuals with practical knowledge and experience of handling paint and knowledge of painting techniques who have reached an impass.
Giving supervised studio time to painters who are stuck or have reached a block while trying to finish an oil or acrylic painting, the course is not suited to watercolours. Students, with the support of the tutor and with individual tuition, will progress their paintings toward resolution and completion. Students should come to class with one, two or three unfinished paintings, their equipment (paints, brushes etc), and any sources imagery. Each painting will be assessed, advice given and a plan for progress devised. Where necessary, demonstrations on techniques such as glazing, drybrush, alla prima, oiling out will be given. Work will be reviewed to see how the resolution progresses and help where challenges occur. Students should leave the studio, if not with the painting finished, with a clear vision of how to finish it with the techniques acquired.

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Jewellery Techniques

Code SCP121
Lecturer Aisling Higgins
 
This is an introductory level  jewellery skills course intended to provide an intensive overview of the fundamental skills of jewellery making. Working with metals, the techniques covered in this five day course include piercing, cutting, filing, soldering, emerying and riveting along with finishing processes. The emphasis will be on fostering familiarity with materials and tools and on acquiring and practising these key skills and techniques of jewellery making and design. The course enables, and will encourage, students to continually develop and improve their abilities after completing the course. The course will be taught through a combination of demonstration and student practice. Students will produce at least one finished piece during the course.

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Creative Sewing & Soft Materials

Code SCD603
Lecturer Aisling McLoughlin
 
This one week introductory course is suitable for school leavers and adults interested in learning more about fabric, materials and sewing techniques for use in fashion design and visual art. The course is suitable for anyone interested in applying to do a fashion or textile course at third level or someone who wants to learn more about how to work with  fabric and realise its potential.
The course aims to provide students with an understanding of how to sew fabric and other soft materials like plastics and paper etc. No previous experience of sewing is required, though an interest in materials and willingness to experiment is important. Through practical demonstration and experimentation the participants will be encouraged to explore their relationship with fabric as a creative medium. This course covers how to manipulate fabric through the techniques of pin-tucking, free-hand machine embroidery and how to heat bond fabrics to create your own unique fabrics. 
Through participation in exercises and demonstrations, participants will have enhanced their technical skills and should have greater confidence and knowledge of working with fabric.

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Experimental Print Making Workshop

Code SP115
Lecturer Barbara Dunne
 
This three-day course includes exploring mono-printing techniques without a printing press. Techniques covered through practical demonstration include mono block printing and lino-printing. Students will take part in practical workshops exploring a range of mark-making techniques, both traditional and contemporary, associated with mono-printing and lino-block printing methods using a range of materials including recycled surfaces.

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Portfolio Preparation

13 Days Over Three Weeks

All students of NCAD must be 16 before commencing any course

Code SPRE
Lecturers Michael Lyons, Julie Sheils, Elaine Leader, Jacqueline Duignan and Ann Maria Healy
 
Please ensure the student name and date of birth is on the application and not the course payee
 
This course is suitable for individuals (both school leavers and mature students) preparing a portfolio for entry into third level art and design colleges. Portfolio preparation focuses on the development of visual ideas and skills leading to the creation of a body of work for your application to first year art and design studies. Emphasis will be placed on the development of drawing and observational skills through studio and location work. Participants are obliged to undertake personal projects outside of course hours and these will be monitored on a day-to-day basis. Tutors skilled and experienced in portfolio teaching deliver this course. Our period of study is a preparatory programme only. Students should not assume that attending this course would give them an advantage over others who wish to access the NCAD full time degree courses.
 
Please note
NCAD is a third level education environment and that while we record attendance, we do not contact parents and guardians if students fail to attend
There is no class on Friday 27th June
 
Students attending NCAD must be 16 years of age or older

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More Information

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