Visual Arts students showcase their photography skills on Old Street Digital Canvas

Capital City College Sixth Form students explore their identity through photography and showcase their work via the Old Street Digital Canvas.

Two Visual Arts students from Capital City College (CCC) took part in a photography project which led to their work being featured on the Old Street Digital Canvas.

Sarah Sayess and Eithan, both of whom are A Level Photography students at CCC’s Sixth Form in Angel took part in the Common Ground 2024 project.

Common Ground is a project run by Autograph, a London-based organisation dedicated to championing the work of artists who use photography and film to highlight questions of race, representation, human rights and social justice. The project is supported by UAL Insights, University of the Arts London’s outreach programme aimed at widening participation across creative education.

The Common Ground project introduces 25 London-based students from Further Education and Sixth Form Colleges to the medium of photography through an artist-led programme. During the 2024 project, the students explored themes of identity through photography over nine sessions taking place at Autograph’s Rivington Place site and UAL’s London College of Communication (LCC).

The programme was created and facilitated by Adrian Wood, International Photographer and Senior Lecturer in Photography at LCC, and D Wiafe, Course Leader in Commercial Photography and Senior Lecturer in Photography at LCC.

During the project, students were challenged to explore how individuals use style, objects and their bodies to reflect their identity and the wider community. The project enabled students to develop photography, moving images and post-production skills while also building their confidence in experimenting and making work independently. As they moved through the project, they were able to create new work for their creative portfolios and connect with industry experts and mentors.

The project culminated in a celebratory event and a public presentation in October 2024. The students’ work was also displayed from 21 October until 3 November via the Old Street Digital Canvas, a digital platform for creativity which supports the local artistic community.

Participating in the project gave students a rare opportunity to showcase their work and helped them gain confidence in their abilities, supporting their ambitions in both exploring identity and applying for university. 

Sarah Sayess, who is studying A Level Photography at CCC’s Sixth Form in Angel said: “[It was] a once in a lifetime experience that has supported me to gain resilience and determination to achieve my goals.”

If you’re considering a career in the creative arts, why not take a look at our A Level courses or our Art, Design and Fashion courses and apply today!

Share!