Introduction | Art Gallery | Friends of Hibernia

Personal and Professional Development with a Spirtiual Dimension

Hibernia College is located in Gloucestershire conveniently accessible from London, Bristol and other major cities. set in a handsome arts and crafts building...more>

Student Working

Our Courses

Foundation Course in Art Therapy - No further intakes

The one-year Foundation Course in Art Therapy gives students an excellent grounding in both the theory and practice of anthroposophic art therapy. The course is especially useful for students who want to progress onto the postgraduate programme, providing the right balance of experiential learning and artistic practice so that students have a good understanding of the basic principles of art therapy. Currently the course components can also be taken as stand-alone units for people only interested in certain themes. The short courses, previously run as part of the Hibernia Foundation year or as stand-alone modules may be offered at a later date as Novalis Trust short courses.

If you are interested in receiving information of the Novalis short courses or the Alanus art therapy training, please send us your details via the contact page.

Award & Awarding Authority

Certificate of attendance and academic records awarded by Hibernia College

Hibernia College

Hibernia College exists to provide high quality education and research in the field of art therapy and related health and educational studies based on an integrated Anthroposophic approach.

From its inception this approach to medicine and therapies has been complimentary to education, conventional medicine and therapeutic models and are not an alternative to them.

Course Leader

Nevo Amit

Teaching Staff

Linda Frosch
Anna Hubbard
Adrian Locher
John Playfoot
Michael Roberts
Don Ratcliffe
and other guest tutors

About the Foundation Course in Art Therapy

This course is intended for people who are interested in anthroposophic art therapy and are considering applying to the Hibernia postgraduate level programme. It offers a practical and experiential introduction to art therapy as well as insights into anthroposophy and its practical application. Fundamental to Hibernia's approach is the perception that the human being and the natural world need to be understood physically as well as in terms of soul and spirit.

The Foundation Course will complement applicants' prior expertise with the specific knowledge and skills needed to apply to the postgraduate art therapy programme the following year. It provides a balance of experiential learning and artistic practice where art, philosophy and medical themes are taught through an interdisciplinary method. A certificate will be given to students who successfully complete course work and attendance requirements. This certificate does not provide a qualification to practise, nor does it guarantee acceptance to the postgraduate training.

Formal classes are supplemented by independent study and project work. The independent work is an essential part of the course and can be done at home or at Hibernia when studio space is available. Students are expected to take part in special events such as the end of term festivals and the annual Open Day. This will entail some extra attendance outside of normal college hours.

Students whose artistic skills do not meet the standard required for the postgraduate course or who require further study, will be required to attend the full-time Foundation. This includes an additional day on a weekly basis for thirty weeks. Places are available for those wishing to study specific modules for personal development or join the additional day of art and study.

Curriculum

The course aims to provide an introduction to anthroposophic art therapy. The curriculum is structured such that each component has a particular focus linked to the core aim. It is based on the integration of anthroposophic concepts with art and medicine.

Throughout the course, the curriculum integrates artistic practices with cognitive understanding gained through theoretical and observational approaches to health and illness, deepening the experience of art and science as an introduction to art therapy. Visiting art therapists from a variety of different professional settings will present their work.

The curriculum comprises of:

1. Medical studies encompassing the physical and spiritual understanding of the human being. A range of anthroposophic and psychological perspectives on illness which extend medical models of understanding

2. Anthroposophy and philosophy seminars to extend and deepen a cognitive understanding of the human being; a study of the biographical phases of human development

3. Inner research into the realm of the human soul through art and study, supported by the study of fairytales and mythology and their transformative role in the human psyche

4. Phenomenological and experiential approaches to colour theory informed by the contributions of Goethe and Steiner

5. Art history as a reflection of the evolution of human consciousness as expressed through art

6. Continuous artistic development including regular tuition and studio practice in painting, drawing and sculpture

We aim to accompany each student's journey with individual input and guidance. Students work and study in an atmosphere which promotes their continuing creative development, their independent research attitude and capacity for self-reflection. They will be part of a multi-disciplinary college which fosters mutual respect and collegial awareness between course participants.