Local community invited to Cardiff Met’s annual Art & Design Community Day

Cardiff Metropolitan University's School of Art and Design will open its doors to the public for its popular annual Community Day on Sunday 15 June 2025.

A range of activities will be available, giving the public the chance to try out skills taught at the School. Highlights include an animation workshop, neurographic art classes - which combine creativity and psychology to support stress reduction and wellbeing - and postcard printing sessions.

The Community Day is open from 12pm to 4pm at Cardiff Met's Llandaff campus, with free workshops running until 3.30pm. There is no requirement to book in advance.

Activities are suitable for anyone over the age of eight , and all children must be accompanied by an adult. The free workshops available include:

• Stop motion animation workshop: Get an introduction to Dragon Frame stop-motion software and the animation principles of timing and movement using everything from Lego, plasticine and found objects to create animation.
• Neurographic art: A meditative practice combining creativity and psychology to reduce stress and support emotional wellbeing.
• Cosmic watercolour animals: A fun and relaxed workshop creating a vibrant cosmic animal using wet-in-wet watercolour washes.
• Screen printing postcards: Visit the print studio and experience screen printing a postcard sized image that you can keep as a memento.
• Fabric, heat transfer press workshop: Using paper cut outs see fabric come to life on a product, before taking a one-of-a-kind swatch away.
• Exploring your facial expressions: Using emotional state software, this activity will show how expressions are used to understand consumer behaviour, user experience and social interaction.
• PEL’s immersive research: Ever wondered how your eyes reveal your decision-making? Try on a pair of eye-tracking glasses which will help uncover how you process information and make choices.
• Riso poster printing: Have a go at making a two colour, A3 riso poster. Cardiff Met tutors show the process of risograph printmaking and get the chance to make a quick drawing or collage.

Screenings will also air from the School's photography studio all day, so the public can watch a screening of original animations, videos and multimedia artworks from the University's graduating art and design cohort.

Dr Bethan Gordon, Dean of Cardiff Metropolitan University’s School of Art and Design, said: “Our annual Community Day is a great opportunity to welcome the University’s neighbours and wider community to take part in a range of activities, get creative and even learn a new skill using some of our fantastic facilities.

“Part of the Cardiff School of Art and Design Summer Show, those attending the community day will also get the chance to see some of the exceptional work produced by our students.”

Students will also be showcasing their work within the Cardiff School of Art and Design Summer Show between Friday 13 June – Friday 20 June 2024. It is free to visit, and the general public are welcome to attend during the following opening hours:

• Weekdays: 10am – 6pm
• Weekends: 12pm – 4pm

Tours of the School's facilities will also run throughout the day – giving attendees a glimpse behind the scenes at how students produce their work and a walk through the Summer Show exhibition to view the finished products.

More information on the Cardiff School of Art & Design Degree Show 2025 is available on Cardiff Met’s webpage.