Manchester School of Art was established in 1838, so this year’s graduates have a double reason to celebrate – finishing their degrees and marking the institution’s 180th anniversary. Originally opened to provide design training to the region’s burgeoning manufacturing industry, the school – part of Manchester Metropolitan University – now runs courses across the disciplines of art, architecture, design and media, and around 1,000 students will be picking up their certificates in 2018.
The work of these will be featured in the degree show, ever popular and open to the public from Saturday 9 June (there is an opening night private view on 8 June from 5.30pm) until Wednesday 20 June, coincidentally an Open Day when prospective students can find out more about what’s on offer.
Everyone is welcome to explore the school and the show, open every day including weekends and taking place across the All Saints Campus, in the Benzie and Grosvenor buildings and the Old Student Union block on Oxford Road.
The show’s identity – Take Flight – has been created by Photography BA alumna Layla Sailor in partnership with freelance graphic designer and illustrator Jake Beddow, following in the footsteps of Malcolm Garrett (2016) and DR.ME (2017). She says she wanted to reinforce a positive supportive message for the artists who are graduating: “The concept Take Flight was inspired by the feeling and experience of the run-up to graduating. Graduation is a period of elevated stress, excitement, fear and relief. Most importantly, it is your final chance to show everyone what you can do before you launch yourself on the creative world.”
Sat 9 – Wed 20 Jun, Manchester School of Art, Cavendish Street, Manchester, M15 6BR and 99 Oxford Road, Manchester, M1 7EL, Tel: 0843 208 6000, Mon – Fri 10am-6pm, Sat – Sun 10am-4pm, free, www.art.mmu.ac.uk
For more art in the city click here.
- Words:
- Sarah-Clare Conlon
- Published on:
- Thu 7 Jun 2018
