Send Raven to Her Dream Art School in England!
Donation protected
Hi! My name is Raven Collins and I am an artist who is on the verge of achieving her dream of studying art in Europe.
I am beyond excited (and proud) to say that I have been offered (and happily accepted) admission to my first choice school: Falmouth University in Cornwall, England in Fall of 2021. I am raising funds to assist me in obtaining my visa, traveling to England, tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. But before I officially ask for your help, I’d like to tell you a little bit more about me, my journey, and the school I’ve set my heart on.
About Me & My Art Journey
I was not yet of school age when I developed a deep love of art, specifically painting. My grandparents introduced me to the works of their favorite artists, including Claude Monet, Edward Degas, & Pablo Picasso, and fueled my new passion by taking me to museum exhibits and encouraging me to explore my own creative skills. I loved the way that my passion for art allowed me to look at the world differently; seeing a myriad of colors in the wings of a bird, and falling in love with the character of Art Deco architecture, or getting lost in the intricate patterns created by spider webs.
Their influence helped me grow a deep love of all forms of art, yet when it came to my own aspirations, I found myself believing the societal notion that art was a passion or hobby, not a practical career to make a stable living. With this in mind, I went to college to study business, as it was a practical subject with many career opportunities. Within one semester, I knew that this course was not right for me. This realization, along with receiving a diagnosis of depression, caused me to decide that the best thing I could do for myself was to take a break from school until I found a career path that I was passionate about.
For the next 8 years, I learned valuable skills working in retail, administration, and waitressing. I developed advanced problem-solving skills under pressure, a knack for working with people of all types and temperaments, and a sense of individuality that allowed me to become a self-motivator and tenacious worker. While I was excelling in any position or task I met with, I found I only felt true excitement when able to take on creative tasks, like drawing advertisements for new menu items or making visual displays. In my personal art practice I felt I’d hit a plateau in my skills, so I decided it was time for me to return to school to study art, not because of its career aspects but because it was what I truly loved and it is the one thing I want to do with my life, regardless of the stigma of becoming a “starving artist”.
Since then, I’ve returned to school at Houston Community College to study Studio Art, and will be completing my Associate’s Degree in the spring. I’ve grown both my passion and skill set in not only painting and drawing, but also in design, sculpture, and art analysis. With each semester I’ve become more certain that I am pursuing the field I am meant for. In Fall of 2019, I won the 2D Design category for my school’s student art exhibit. Now that it is time to move on to complete my Bachelor’s degree, I am excited to learn to put on art shows, to develop my own independent art practice, and experiment in various mediums to grow my skills and find my artistic style.
I aspire to study in England for a variety of reasons, the largest being that I appreciate that English courses focus primarily on your field of study rather than the additional required courses in America, which allows for a more in-depth exploration of your course, especially as an artist. I value that England puts such a high premium on preparing students for life after university through career placements and interaction with professionals on a regular basis. I am also excited to experience new cultures and points of view to grow my own horizons, and therefore my ability to communicate through my art. It thrills me to think of studying art in Europe, where I am within reach of the great art and history within England, and just a short trip away from the rich art cultures in Paris, Rome, and the rest of Europe.
In the future I plan to develop my own personal art practice and continue being excited and inspired by the world around me to keep learning and trying new things with art for years to come. I plan to continue my studies at a postgraduate level, both to continue to grow my own skills and so that I can go on to teach art at a university level where I can help students embrace their creative dreams, as I wish I would have done sooner.
About Falmouth University
Falmouth University is a vibrant specialist creative multi-arts institution based in the beautiful South-west of England. The courses cover the areas of Art, Design, Fashion, Gaming, Photography, Entrepreneurship, Business, Film, Animation, Music, Performance, Journalism and Writing. (I personally, will be pursuing my Fine Art degree, so that I can continue exploring multiple mediums.)
Falmouth’s world-class resources are fully integrated into your course, forming an essential part of your university provision. The university is constantly investing in facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and expert technicians, giving you everything you need to excel in your career. At Falmouth ideas, innovation, collaboration and change makers are celebrated. Students are doing it for real from the moment they arrive at the University - getting the skills they need in order to be a part of the creative economy after graduation.
Falmouth University’s undergraduate degrees are three years in length, focused on the subject area and closely aligned with industry, so students tackle live briefs, work in industry-standard facilities and are taught by academics who are professionals in their field.
LOCATION
Between the 1920s and 1960s saw an influx of influential artists to Cornwall. Artists included Barbara Hepworth, Kit Wood and Alfred Wallis. The attraction of Cornwall’s breathtaking natural beauty continues to attract artists and creative individuals.
Cornwall is the 2nd largest creative hub in the UK outside of London and Falmouth University continues the tradition of developing creative individuals in Cornwall.
Falmouth has a wonderful creative community of artisans producing everything from arts and crafts to food and drink.
Falmouth University is located on the south coast of Cornwall, close to beautiful beaches and even more incredible views. Falmouth University is based across two campuses in the joining towns of Falmouth and Penryn only ten minutes’ drive apart.
SKILLED AND INDUSTRY READY
The creative industries are the fastest growing sector of the UK economy. One in six of all jobs held by graduates in the UK now sit within the creative economy, which is worth £76.9 billion, and Falmouth provides a gateway into this sector.
SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI
Graduates include Turner Prize, Jerwood Prize and Man Booker Prize nominees and they work across the world at the highest levels of the global creative industries for organizations such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Mulberry, Nike, the Guardian, Google, Ogilvy, Aardman, Disney, Penguin, BBC, Universal, Elle, Burberry, Adidas, Paul Smith, Pentagram, The Times, and Reuters.
What Will The Funds Be Used For?
Being in the American collegiate system, I am no stranger to accumulating student debt, so these funds will be used to minimize that debt as much as possible. I’d like to be as transparent as possible when asking for help, so here is a summary of the costs I am anticipating:
*Tuition: £16,195/$23,750 per year
*Accommodation (Housing & Utilities): £6,600/$9200 per year (£660/$920 per month)
*Student Visa application: £348/$485 one-time fee
*Healthcare through NHS: £470 or about (all three years to be paid in advance at time of visa application, totalling £1,410)
*Flight: about $600
A Final Word
I know that, globally, we’ve had a tough year amidst this pandemic. So I just wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU! Whether you are able to donate, or if you’re only able to share this GoFundMe with those in your network, I want to say I truly appreciate all of your help in achieving my longtime dream.
To see some of my work, you can check out my online portfolio here
Thank you so much again for your help and support!
I am beyond excited (and proud) to say that I have been offered (and happily accepted) admission to my first choice school: Falmouth University in Cornwall, England in Fall of 2021. I am raising funds to assist me in obtaining my visa, traveling to England, tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. But before I officially ask for your help, I’d like to tell you a little bit more about me, my journey, and the school I’ve set my heart on.
About Me & My Art Journey
I was not yet of school age when I developed a deep love of art, specifically painting. My grandparents introduced me to the works of their favorite artists, including Claude Monet, Edward Degas, & Pablo Picasso, and fueled my new passion by taking me to museum exhibits and encouraging me to explore my own creative skills. I loved the way that my passion for art allowed me to look at the world differently; seeing a myriad of colors in the wings of a bird, and falling in love with the character of Art Deco architecture, or getting lost in the intricate patterns created by spider webs.
Their influence helped me grow a deep love of all forms of art, yet when it came to my own aspirations, I found myself believing the societal notion that art was a passion or hobby, not a practical career to make a stable living. With this in mind, I went to college to study business, as it was a practical subject with many career opportunities. Within one semester, I knew that this course was not right for me. This realization, along with receiving a diagnosis of depression, caused me to decide that the best thing I could do for myself was to take a break from school until I found a career path that I was passionate about.
For the next 8 years, I learned valuable skills working in retail, administration, and waitressing. I developed advanced problem-solving skills under pressure, a knack for working with people of all types and temperaments, and a sense of individuality that allowed me to become a self-motivator and tenacious worker. While I was excelling in any position or task I met with, I found I only felt true excitement when able to take on creative tasks, like drawing advertisements for new menu items or making visual displays. In my personal art practice I felt I’d hit a plateau in my skills, so I decided it was time for me to return to school to study art, not because of its career aspects but because it was what I truly loved and it is the one thing I want to do with my life, regardless of the stigma of becoming a “starving artist”.
Since then, I’ve returned to school at Houston Community College to study Studio Art, and will be completing my Associate’s Degree in the spring. I’ve grown both my passion and skill set in not only painting and drawing, but also in design, sculpture, and art analysis. With each semester I’ve become more certain that I am pursuing the field I am meant for. In Fall of 2019, I won the 2D Design category for my school’s student art exhibit. Now that it is time to move on to complete my Bachelor’s degree, I am excited to learn to put on art shows, to develop my own independent art practice, and experiment in various mediums to grow my skills and find my artistic style.
I aspire to study in England for a variety of reasons, the largest being that I appreciate that English courses focus primarily on your field of study rather than the additional required courses in America, which allows for a more in-depth exploration of your course, especially as an artist. I value that England puts such a high premium on preparing students for life after university through career placements and interaction with professionals on a regular basis. I am also excited to experience new cultures and points of view to grow my own horizons, and therefore my ability to communicate through my art. It thrills me to think of studying art in Europe, where I am within reach of the great art and history within England, and just a short trip away from the rich art cultures in Paris, Rome, and the rest of Europe.
In the future I plan to develop my own personal art practice and continue being excited and inspired by the world around me to keep learning and trying new things with art for years to come. I plan to continue my studies at a postgraduate level, both to continue to grow my own skills and so that I can go on to teach art at a university level where I can help students embrace their creative dreams, as I wish I would have done sooner.
About Falmouth University
Falmouth University is a vibrant specialist creative multi-arts institution based in the beautiful South-west of England. The courses cover the areas of Art, Design, Fashion, Gaming, Photography, Entrepreneurship, Business, Film, Animation, Music, Performance, Journalism and Writing. (I personally, will be pursuing my Fine Art degree, so that I can continue exploring multiple mediums.)
Falmouth’s world-class resources are fully integrated into your course, forming an essential part of your university provision. The university is constantly investing in facilities, state-of-the-art equipment and expert technicians, giving you everything you need to excel in your career. At Falmouth ideas, innovation, collaboration and change makers are celebrated. Students are doing it for real from the moment they arrive at the University - getting the skills they need in order to be a part of the creative economy after graduation.
Falmouth University’s undergraduate degrees are three years in length, focused on the subject area and closely aligned with industry, so students tackle live briefs, work in industry-standard facilities and are taught by academics who are professionals in their field.
LOCATION
Between the 1920s and 1960s saw an influx of influential artists to Cornwall. Artists included Barbara Hepworth, Kit Wood and Alfred Wallis. The attraction of Cornwall’s breathtaking natural beauty continues to attract artists and creative individuals.
Cornwall is the 2nd largest creative hub in the UK outside of London and Falmouth University continues the tradition of developing creative individuals in Cornwall.
Falmouth has a wonderful creative community of artisans producing everything from arts and crafts to food and drink.
Falmouth University is located on the south coast of Cornwall, close to beautiful beaches and even more incredible views. Falmouth University is based across two campuses in the joining towns of Falmouth and Penryn only ten minutes’ drive apart.
SKILLED AND INDUSTRY READY
The creative industries are the fastest growing sector of the UK economy. One in six of all jobs held by graduates in the UK now sit within the creative economy, which is worth £76.9 billion, and Falmouth provides a gateway into this sector.
SUCCESSFUL ALUMNI
Graduates include Turner Prize, Jerwood Prize and Man Booker Prize nominees and they work across the world at the highest levels of the global creative industries for organizations such as Saatchi & Saatchi, Mulberry, Nike, the Guardian, Google, Ogilvy, Aardman, Disney, Penguin, BBC, Universal, Elle, Burberry, Adidas, Paul Smith, Pentagram, The Times, and Reuters.
What Will The Funds Be Used For?
Being in the American collegiate system, I am no stranger to accumulating student debt, so these funds will be used to minimize that debt as much as possible. I’d like to be as transparent as possible when asking for help, so here is a summary of the costs I am anticipating:
*Tuition: £16,195/$23,750 per year
*Accommodation (Housing & Utilities): £6,600/$9200 per year (£660/$920 per month)
*Student Visa application: £348/$485 one-time fee
*Healthcare through NHS: £470 or about (all three years to be paid in advance at time of visa application, totalling £1,410)
*Flight: about $600
A Final Word
I know that, globally, we’ve had a tough year amidst this pandemic. So I just wanted to take the time to say THANK YOU! Whether you are able to donate, or if you’re only able to share this GoFundMe with those in your network, I want to say I truly appreciate all of your help in achieving my longtime dream.
To see some of my work, you can check out my online portfolio here
Thank you so much again for your help and support!
Organiser
Raven Collins-Stover
Organiser
Houston, TX