A closer look at The New Graduate Award!

Natassia Lee January 15, 2025

Take a further look at the New Graduate Award, a prize awarded to a BA (Hons) Fine Art final year student studying at our school and a select number of institutions in the North East. The New Graduate Award is a studio-based residency from Arts Council National Portfolio Organisations Middlesbrough Art Week and The Auxiliary Project space.

Our school is one of the few organisations that the award selects from. This years recipients where Beth Hinde and Charlotte Thompson who exhibited with Middlesbrough Art Week as part of this extensive award. Previous winners include Fiery Machirst, Aimme Sully and Beth Hunton.

Speaking of the award Lecturer Tony Charles said: “When Fine Art students complete their studies, they can often find themselves, and their creativity, at a standstill. Many have achieved their academic goals but are left in a creative vacuum with nothing more to aim for and nothing to fuel momentum. The New Graduate Award is an important counter to this situation. Through the provision of studio space, expenses, group critique, exhibition opportunities and professional training, the award motivates graduates and assists in kickstarting careers before they are allowed to flounder.”

Winning graduates are selected by The MAW curator and artistic director who visit each university to give a professional practice session to each cohort, ‘this is particularly impactful in terms of building confidence in subject-specific employability and networks for graduating art students.’

The award consists of a three-month (July – Sept 2024) residency, £500 exhibition fee, up to £250 materials budget, £150 travel costs, networking opportunities with other artists, arts professionals, curators, exhibition and event venues, 1 years Starving Artists Opportunities database membership, support from Middlesbrough Art Week throughout the project, online support, studio provision in Newcastle, Sunderland or Middlesbrough and a place in annual The Middlesbrough Art Week showcase as well as a two week intensive induction.

This years’ induction included an artist talk by Eve Cromwell, Artist Statement workshop with George Vasey, an opportunities workshop with Conor Ruth from Starving Artists and a video call with New Contemporaries. Visits to Stockton arts fair, in-house workshops on writing invoices, applying for opportunities and budgeting, travel and accommodations costs for the exhibition and two group crits with the MAW curator team.

The graduates are selected and presented with the award at our annual Graduate Summer Showcase. Last years recipients where Beth Hinde and Charlotte Marshall. Currently studying her MA, student Beth received fantastic feedback from Auxiliary staff who said she was; “the most engaged of this year’s cohort producing new paintings and also really taking on board ideas and trying new things, this culminated in a new work for the festival which felt like a real step forward.”

Reflecting on her experience Beth said “The time I spent during the New Graduate Award is something I’ll never forget! I was able to get direct experience in the industry that I hope to one day make my career, all while being around such supportive people. The Auxiliary team were so kind and helpful, being on hand whenever I needed them, working with them was such an amazing opportunity! The whole experience flew by but I constantly look back on the time I spent doing the NGA and I’m really proud of what I was able to accomplish thankful for everyone’s support.”

If you are interested in studying BA (Hons) Fine Art we offer a dynamic programme that allows students to develop the skills and opportunities needed to carve out an exciting career in the arts. Make sure you check out our course details here!

Foundation Art Prize 2025 open for entries!