AT Bury College's art department in Albert Road, Whitefield, students are learning their skills and finding out how to go about getting a job afterwards.

Sector manager Janice Crowley recently engaged Philip Cox as resident artist, and he has been instrumental in getting a programme of paper people sculpture off the ground.

She scoffs at suggestions that making paper people sculptures is in any way a waste of time.

"For a start the figures are made entirely out of what is basically rubbish so they cost us nothing, and the students learn a lot while constructing them," she said.

She pointed out a group of students making decorative paper chairs.

"You should be able to sit on the finished thing," she mused, pointing out that lessons in strength and design were learned as well as the production of a decorative and useful item.

All in all some 400 students, mainly 16 to 18 year olds but with a sprinkling of mature, attend the arts courses.

Initially they are taught basic artistic skills but then go on to specialise in areas they obviously have leanings towards.

Moving with the times the department has an up to date computer workshop for graphic and other types of design for the future.

Ceramic, fine art, fashion design and photography departments all interact with great success. Indeed Bury College's Art Department recently gained a top grade one in its recent inspection report.

Consistently high examination results and hard work earned the students the accolade and many of them will go on to degree courses.

Of course few are likely to end up as a Picasso or Van Gough but they are well prepared for jobs in all sectors and have already undertaken work, some of which has been used nationally.

After the murder of Shirley Leach in Bury's bus terminus Greater Manchester Police Force invited the students to design, compile and print a booklet giving safety advice for individuals in all kinds of situations.

The finished product was so good the police decided to use it nationally!

The students also scored a hit with Metrolink, designing their commemorative first day ticket.

Other commissions have also come their way because, frankly, they're good at producing the goods when they're needed.

And the paper people project will live on with these innovative sculptures installed around the college.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.