Once I’ve finished my degree I could follow any of the next steps:

• Be an Artist
• Continue with education and do a Masters
• Go into Teaching, PGCE
• Employment in a creative industry
• Artist Residency

I have considered continuing my education and pursing a Masters, realistically I cannot continue straight on in education with this due to being a mature students and debts I need to try and clear. For me to do this, although funding is available through student finance, bursaries or grants etc, I do need to build up a bit of money in the pot to afford living expenses. I have looked at the following courses. The two in Bristol are full time and I definitely need to look at the funding I have available if I wish to pursue them in 2026.

Falmouth University has an online option which is a part time degree over two years and have three intake dates a year. This I am interested in purely becuase of the flexibility it offers me as a a mature student with family commitments. There are specific things that you need to attend Falmouth for as part of the course, however, as I have family in the area it would help reduce my living/hotel fees.

https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/E10D12/fine-art-printmaking

https://courses.uwe.ac.uk/E10112/fine-art

https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/study/online/postgraduate/fine-art

I would also need to check what bursaries or grants are available if I don’t qualify for student finance at the time. Grants and Bursaries change all the time and good places to keep abreast of what is available are:

• Arts Council Funding
• https://www.grantsonline.org.uk/news/arts-culture-and-heritage/
• https://www.creative-lives.org/pages/category/funding-opportunities?Take=50
• https://www.artshub.co.uk/grants/
• https://www.gov.uk > grant-bursary-adult-learners
• https://www.ucas.com > Money and student life > money

In 2024 I could have applied for a grant from the Arts Council for funding to set up a studio and start up my business as a new and emerging artist. However, this year the funding is not available.

As well as the websites above to look for commissions and job opportunties, there is also the Artquest, Artnet and an – Artists Newsletter.

https://www.a-n.co.uk/

I actually think the Artists Newsletter is an invaluable resource in pulling everything together and keeping you up to date with news, views, and job opportunites. It also helps with a lot of small business advice tips like business admin, getting paid, insurance and contracts.

For me I am going to follow the set up my own arts practice route, and possibly do a Masters next year.