When new Head of Department, David Boyle joined The Alice Smith School in September 2007 he was given the remit of turning an old Music block into a modern facility for Art & Design Education. The project was divided into three phases spanning  from 2007 to 2010 and involved knocking out every internal wall and building to add 50% more space.

The new art building design shown above comprises of the following specialist facilities:

Gallery Spaces

The Entrance Gallery Space allows student work to be showcased all year round. This space allows video and other presentations to be viewed on a large widescreen and audio system. The Upper School Studio and Printmaking Studio transforms into a large gallery space for the summer final examination exhibition in June. This space is also used to hold whole school conference events. There is a shelf storage system for the storage of individual student’s work, allowing students to safely store and dry work on their own shelf.

Two Main Teaching Classrooms

There are two main classrooms for the delivery of the core teaching to KS3 and KS4. All class spaces have purpose built furniture and sinks designed for a modern art facility. Students can access materials via a materials tray storage system. There are 3 iMacs in each room, an electronic whiteboard and sound system. Each room has active display spaces to celebrate achievement of students and provide stimulus for project work.

Upper School Studio

The upper school studio has individual student spaces based on an art college foundation studio that allows students to leave their work out and return to continue during their free periods, breaks and after school. Each space has a table, personal display area, electric supply and artist’s easel. The space encourages independent study and is used frequently by students throughout the day.

iMac ICT Suite and ICT Facilities

The department has 20 iMacs and Intuous 4 graphic tablets. 12 are sited inside the ICT suite and the rest are distributed around the various teaching spaces. The department uses the Mac iLife suite of software, MS Office, Adobe CS5 Design Premium Suite and Corel Painter as well as a variety of other creative software. Computers can be used to create outcomes or are used like a paint brush as a tool to be used at any point in the creative process. Students also have access to an A3 digital scanner, digital  cameras and video cameras to assist in their art production. Each teaching space has an SMART electronic white board and projector. The whole building inside and outside is wireless enabling students to connect to the school network and the internet. It is a 21st Century Learning Environment for Art & Design.

Improved Office, Storage and Toilet Facilities

The new office centralises department staff in one place making it easier to collaborate and for students to find staff between lessons. Improvements in storage enable better organisation, maintenance of stocks and the additions of new toilets completes the facilities.

Specialised studios have been added to enable the department to provide specialist teaching in the mediums of:

                            - sculpture and ceramics

                            - digital photography

                            - printmaking

and a space provided for the delivery of history of art lectures and individual tutorials.

Ceramics and Sculpture Studio

This area is comprised of a kiln room and 3D work storage facility. A large classroom space, which allows students to create large 3D works of art, leaving them in situ whilst being completed. Two pottery wheels, a jigsaw, electric drill and a variety of manual tools and equipment aimed at special sculpture and ceramic production.

Digital Photography Controlled Lighting Studio

The introduction of digital photography to the curriculum has enabled students to explore this expanding technical art. We have selected a digital darkroom and to complement this we have a space where the lighting can be controlled using blackout curtains and spotlighting. The space also has professional standard studio flash lighting equipment and photography backdrop system allowing studio based photography to be explored. The department has 6 compact digital cameras, 2 Canon Digital SLR cameras and a wide range of lenses for students use in  photography and art.

Printmaking Studio

The printmaking studio allows students to use a variety of printmaking processes including:

- Mono Printing

            - Lino Printing

            - Woodcut Printing

            - Embossing

            - Polyboard Printing

            - Screen Printing

            - Lithography

            - Intaglio

            - Dry Point Etching

            - Collographs

There are 4 specialist printing presses, screen printing bench with a specialist screen printing surface and jig system to aid registration. Screens and Etching and Engraving Equipment is also available to students. We also have digital printing capability via the digital photography studio facility.

Lecture and Tutorial Space

This final space allows department staff to deliver small lectures on art history and other subject areas to small groups of students. It can also be used for tutorial purposes where staff review and advise students on their work. It is also used for department and faculty meetings.

Outside Picnic Garden Space

The garden space allows students to make use of the outside environment for the creation of their art work. During events and exhibitions it will be used by guests to socialise and enjoy refreshments. The space is wireless and allows students to use their laptops in the open air environment.

We hope you have enjoyed this brief tour of our facilities and that you have had a flavour of what we have created.

If you would like to visit the department please feel free to make an appointment with the Head of Department:

                                Mr. David Jonathon Boyle

                                Phone: (603) 9543 3688 (Art & Design Department)

                                Email: hofcearts.ep@alice-smith.edu.my

Building Projects cont. next >

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Change is inevitable and should be supported by sound development planning that is based on strategic aims and objectives that are understood by all, targeting a shared vision.