xyXV4

Recommendations

Info

CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO Signpost Stepping out as a new artist What you need to know and where to find it a-n.co.uk/signpost Supporting student learning and employability in the visual arts a-n specialises in helping new graduates make the transition to professional artists. Join us by becoming a member to get access to practical guides and resources. Contact us to find out more about our talks and professional and development programmes. a-n.co.uk 44
DEFINING SUCCESS “Keep the wilting flowers away from the visitors” What do tutors and art school directors think a degree show needs to do for it to be considered successful We asked around for some thoughts. What makes a successful degree show Linda Drew, deputy director of Glasgow School of Art, has been to quite a few and knows what she likes: “I think there’s a kind of alchemy of (un)predictable parts; above all, good art and design work. I prefer a well-curated selection with captions rather than lots of extraneous material. I love to see excited students who are able and willing to engage with you about their work.” Ginny Button, director of The Falmouth School of Art, says: “A degree show should enable students to put themselves on the line, and provide a real experience of what it means to engage with an audience. It is a pivotal as well as celebratory moment, looking backwards to reflect on what they’ve achieved during their degree, as well as looking forwards to continue with their practice. It should never be a finale, but more of a springboard to the next stage.” For Sarah R Key, joint award leader, fine art, at Staffordshire University, the degree show is about bringing together the many strands of a course – and not being afraid to take a few risks. “It should reflect the breadth of practices that emerge from a broad-based course and the richness that comes from diversity within the studio environment. It pulls together the many threads of individual artistic enquiry to create an exciting platform from which tomorrow’s artists can emerge.” Steve Hawley, Associate Dean Research at Manchester School of Art, believes a degree show should deliver the unexpected: “A successful show shouldn’t be concerned with polish necessarily, although professionalism and attention to detail are important. The main thing is to see work that takes risks within an awareness of the past – and that produces an involuntary thrill of surprise.” Dean Hughes, director of undergraduate studies at Edinburgh School of Art, says degree shows “are for me synonymous with a change in the weather. It’s a light and optimistic time.” He continues: “At their worst they bring out the drain pipedividing megalomaniac. As a high point, they sometimes bring forth a truly memorable experience which is free from the dominant mercantile culture industry.” “Something for everyone and many things for anyone” is what Paul Harris, head of Gray’s School of Art, Aberdeen, expects from a degree show. “[It should hold] challenges and rewards, both sensual and intellectual, and should do exactly what it’s meant to do – launch the newest generation of society’s most creative minds and talent into the world.” Wayne Lloyd, fine arts course leader at UWE Bristol, adds: “People look on degree shows as if they take place at the beginning of an artist’s careers. But significant things have already happened to these new artists. Experiences from an artist’s early life continue to be a source of material for decades to come, but being older doesn’t make you smarter. Their art is good right now...” Even good art, though, can be let down by bad presentation. Glasgow School of Art’s deputy director has a view on that: “Each students’ showing space need not be curated to resemble a ‘mini me’ show. Keep the wilting flowers, personal stash of wine and other artefacts away from the visitors; it really does detract. The best degree shows feel great on the night and continue to have a strong student presence into the following week – after all, this is practice for art practice.” 1 1 UWE Bristol, Fine Art degree show, 2013. Photo: Steve Norton 45
Page 1 and 2: Degree Shows Guide 2014 NEW TECHNOL
Page 5 and 6: Welcome 1 2 3 4 It’s 15 years sin
Page 7 and 8: Contents 09-11 FIRST THOUGHTS Justi
Page 9 and 10: FIRST THOUGHTS Value judgements: th
Page 11 and 12: 3 devices in everyday usage, includ
Page 13 and 14: PERSPECTIVES Views on show What mak
Page 15 and 16: PERSPECTIVES Kirsty Ogg, director,
Page 17 and 18: 1 Fiona Masterton, Blue Bayou 2 Fio
Page 19 and 20: 1 Mary Wood, Unstable Self, compres
Page 21 and 22: PERSPECTIVES Kevin Hunt, artist and
Page 23 and 24: “I am very nervous, but I’m als
Page 25 and 26: PERSPECTIVES Deirdre Figueiredo, di
Page 27: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO School of C
Page 30 and 31: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO CSU_2014_XX
Page 32 and 33: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO Art and Des
Page 34 and 35: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO FIRST IMPRE
Page 36 and 37: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO SIA ALAND-P
Page 38 and 39: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO Summer Degr
Page 40 and 41: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO flux Stoke-
Page 42 and 43: CLICK ADS FOR MORE INFO Your route
Page 46 and 47: t your work and avoid getting rippe
Page 48: “huge resource of valuable and es

xyXV4

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?