DUCHY Square Centre for Creativity is offering creative people the chance to further their knowledge of textiles with a new course in fibre craft.

The centre in Princetown has teamed up with East Devon's Bicton College, one of the leading providers of land-based courses in the country, to offer a broad based fibre craft course, leading to a qualification.

The course is approved by the Northern College of Further Education (NCFE) in Newcastle, a national qualifications awarding organisation promoting the education and training of both young people and adults.

It will enable up to 12 candidates taking part to work towards a level one and level two NCFE approved qualification in fibre craft.

Open to those with no previous experience, specialist lecturers will deliver a 30-week programme of workshops starting on Thursday September 29 with a different fibre craft and textile technique demonstrated each week.

The course is being led by lecturer Gill Burbidge and other skilled lecturers who will begin by teaching candidates the different fibre techniques after which they will work independently with tutor support to create their own final pieces.

Gill said: 'The course will help candidates develop a unique and individual creative response to materials and processes and ultimately produce their own vision.

'It will help them to build skill and confidence in creating their own work, as well as showcasing and exhibiting it and they will be working with some of the finest lecturers in their individual creative fields.'

During the programme, the lecturers will deliver sessions on a variety of disciplines, including free motion embroidery, natural dyeing and wet felting techniques.

There will also be introductions to silk painting, dyeing and eco-printing as well as the chance to develop a portfolio of samples and related research throughout the programme.

Duchy Square is already establishing a  growing reputation as a textile centre of excellence through its series of Textile Day networking sessions, held on the last Friday of every month, as well as several major trade fairs staged at the centre's gallery and work unit spaces.

Opened in March 2009 and supported by a number of organisations, including Duchy of Cornwall and Devon County Council, the Duchy Square Centre for Creativity offers low cost workshop space on two floors and is also helping boost the local economy by connecting local businesses with other key industry sectors.

For more information on the courses available, workshops and the exhibition programme at Duchy Square, telephone the centre on 01822 890828 or visit the website http://www.duchysquare.org">www.duchysquare.org