In 2009 Joanne completed a top-up year for the BA(Hons) Applied Arts in Enterprise programme at Cleveland College of Art and Design, having graduated from the FdA in Applied Arts in 2008. Joanne left school with one GCSE grade C in Art, as her dyslexia was not diagnosed until later on. Joanne completed a BTEC National Diploma in Theatre Crafts, but it was several years before she eventually decided to progress to higher education, having started up her own business, ‘Idle Hands’, married and started a family.

Joanne’s courses at Cleveland have enabled her to carry out live briefs with the NHS, Coats Crafts UK and MIMA. As well as studying and running a home, she presents workshops and masterclasses in cardmaking at Idle Hands, and delivers workshops in Crocheting at Cleveland College. She has also been working with local councils to deliver craft workshops in deprived areas. Her ambition was to set up a business where she will make and sell her own products, using the skills she has gained at Cleveland.

Shaping futures

Joanne worked with Widening Communication again in 2010 to talk about her experiences post graduation.

See the film here >>>