Students and staff from the Creative Arts department at the College spent an exciting week in the Big Apple taking part in a huge array of activities, workshops, gallery and museum visits. The trip had taken a year to organise and enabled students to see the very best of art, film, dance, performance and music in one of the most vibrant cities in the world.

During the week the whole group visited Liberty Island and saw the Statue of Liberty, viewed the Manhattan skyline from the top of the Empire State building, went ice skating in Central Park, took in the Broadway show Paramour and visited the Ground Zero site and museum.

Additionally each subject had their own itineraries which included Dance workshops with Alvin Aily and the Broadway Dance Company, music theatre with the cast of Paramour, tours of Madison Square Gardens, a gig at BB King’s blues club, tours of MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum, Garment District and Cooper Hewitt gallery, Paley Centre, MOMI and NBC Studios. Students got to ride the Subway, shop and see all the sites of the city in all weathers over the week – sun, rain and heavy snow.

Kayleigh Benham said, “Thanks to the amazing lecturers who gave us all an unforgettable opportunity to meet people and see amazing things. This was the best experience I have ever had.”

Steph Devitt added, “It’s a week I don’t think any of us will forget.”

The students are now able to use their images, experiences and videos to enrich their creative work and staff are already thinking of where to go next.