Artpocket Studios | Visit East of England

artpocket was founded in 2011 by artists Hannelore Smith and Rebecca Tough. Their aim was to make art accessible to all and find new ways outside the constraints of the traditional education system for others to participate in creative education.

The institute has grown to become Norfolks finest independent art school, delivering innovative education in creative arts.
From their Nomadic beginnings delivering workshops and short courses at various venues across Norfolk, artpocket have established a well equipped city centre studios, that boasts a varied programme of short courses and year programmes including their in-house Foundation course; Art Intensive, Postgraduate Programme in Creative Practice and popular portfolio building course; Art Direction.

artpocket supports its students progression both in-house, through the programme of learning on offer but also onto Higher Education courses. Many past (and present) students return as visiting tutors, bringing fresh ideas and and continuing to build the vibrant creative community.

All artpocket tutors have a wide and extensive experience in art education and have come together through their professional backgrounds. artpocket as a collective have exhibited locally and worked collaboratively on a number of projects. Individually they continue their own practice and have exhibited widely nationally and internationally.

One of artpockets key aims is to deliver broad and varied creative education of an exceptional quality; To do this they draw upon their network of creative practitioners locally, nationally and internationally. They celebrate an extensive list of visiting practitioners from a range of disciplines. Students gain huge benefit from learning from workshops and tutorials with highly skilled, experienced artists, designers and craftspeople that are celebrated in their field. artpocket regularly take their creative expertise outside of their studios, collaborating with local partners to deliver high quality creative education across East Anglia.

Over the past three years artpocket have been working in partnership with NEACO (The Network for East Anglian Collaborative Outreach) which aims to help young people from East Anglia with little or no experience of university to explore the world of higher education. Tutors from artpocket have delivered a programme of outreach sessions in Norfolk schools, as well as workshops for A level students from Norwich University of the Arts. This academic year has seen them work with NEACO and Norwich University of the Arts to deliver a successful online National Saturday Club. Activities such as these support and encourage students to aim high and realise their potential as young creatives.

artpocket were recognised for their valid and varied contribution to the Arts in Norfolk by receiving a nomination for the Visual Arts category of the 2018 Norfolk Arts Awards.