Art Scholarships

The Art School is a vibrant, inspirational and engaging creative environment, where every pupil’s individuality and potential to fully realise their artistic ambitions is highly valued. All year groups are encouraged to work with new and unfamiliar art materials, alongside approaches that are challenging, to extend the boundaries of their experiences and artistic expression. As a result Art scholars acquire new skills in both contemporary and traditional art making techniques, which engenders a progressive approach for all future studies.

Definition of an Art Scholar at Marlborough College

All Art scholars are taught together outside lesson time one afternoon a week for two hours.

These workshop sessions are held to broaden the variety of artistic skills that the scholars cover and encourage self-directed, independent work practices. During the Lent or Summer term, an Art scholars’ exhibition is held in the Mount House Gallery, providing a valuable opportunity for the scholars to curate and show their work.

Varied creative methods of tuition are practised, through art forms from the discipline of observational drawing, to the use of digital media. Experimental printmaking, ceramics, sculpture and painting workshops enrich each pupil’s experience.

The Art School not only endorses the structured teaching of examination criteria, but is also flexible in accommodating both group and an individual pupil’s creativity and aspirations. We nurture imaginative, critical thinking and provide opportunities to communicate creative initiatives, techniques and original ideas.

All pupils are welcome to work in the Art School during afternoons and at weekends, to pursue personal interests, utilise different media, or extend school projects. Photography, film, animation, sculpture, printmaking and ceramic workshops are also available within the Shell (Year 9) and Remove (Year 10) Options Programme.

National and International Art Excursions

Central to scholars’ artistic developments is inspiration gained through viewing both historical and contemporary art at first hand. Year groups will have the opportunity to visit significant exhibitions nationally, including venues in London, Oxford and local art centres.

Pupils are encouraged to compile their own sketchbooks and written accounts and to discuss their understanding and views on the cultural environments they experience.

The application deadline for an Art scholarship is mid-December, Year 8. Specific dates will be published on the College website at the end of the Summer term of Year 7.

Art Scholarship Application

There are no formal scholarship examination papers. All decisions relating to Art scholarships are made by the Art Department.

Invitations to an Art Taster Day and/or an Experience Day taking place during the Michaelmas term of Year 8 will be sent to all parents with a child who has achieved a Confirmed List place at the College.

Art Scholarship Submission

In addition to the scholarship application form, candidates must submit an electronic portfolio. The portfolio should be a PowerPoint presentation entitled ‘Art Scholarship Portfolio’ and submitted in the January of Year 8.

The electronic portfolio should be emailed to the Admissions Department and consist of the following, and no more: 1. Title Page: The full name of the candidate 2. 8 slides showing 8 Art works in any medium, created over the past year, and not earlier. Preferably 4 class-based works and 4 works created out of lesson time. All to be selected by the candidate. A very short description with the dimensions of the work and media can accompany each slide. 3. Up to 12 images from selected pages out of ongoing notebooks, sketchbooks and visual journals. Candidates who have taken their own photographs can include these in their portfolio, though no more than 10 photographs to be included.

Short-Listed Applicants

The strongest applicants will then be short-listed and invited to the College during the Lent term of Year 8 for an assessment day when they will be able to discuss their work in an Art scholarship interview.

Potential scholars will be assessed in three areas: 1) Their submitted portfolio (as outlined above) 2) An observational drawing assignment set on the day 3) Their potential as judged in the interview

Art Scholarship Interview

At the interview, candidates must show an ability to discuss their work from their portfolio and to articulate the ways in which they have developed their ideas. Promise, as well as achievement, will be assessed.

Successful candidates will be notified of their scholarship offer within approximately 2 weeks of their assessment.