A stunning display of work by talented creatives graduating this summer from The Northern School of Art’s degree-level campus has opened to the public.

Students along with their families and friends attended a packed opening event on Thursday 29 May at the School’s Hartlepool campus which launched the showcase of work that is now available to view until Friday 6 June 2025.

The extensive showcase of work celebrates work by The Northern School of Art’s final year students on the School’s visual arts and stage and screen degree courses.

The Degree Show is one of a series of events which shine a spotlight on future creative talent to look out for.

Two recent performances of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible by the School’s graduating BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen students at ARC Stockton Arts Centre received standing ovations from capacity audiences.

The Northern Film Festival, held in the cinema at ARC earlier in the month to celebrate work by final year BA (Hons) Film, TV & Theatre Production students, was also a sell-out success along with a matinee event that was enjoyed by local students.

Displays at the Degree Show event at No 1 Church Street in Hartlepool include displays of fine art, film and stage sets, photography, textiles, costumes, animation, illustration, models and graphics by this year’s graduating course students at The Northern School of Art.

Undergraduates on the BA (Hons) Fashion are also displaying a range of recent designs at the show.

Visitors can also see the outcome of a collaborative project by second year stage and screen students which include a set recreating the waiting room at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Grosmont railway station, props, costumes and a multi cam live TV show featuring acting students.

At the show a series of awards recognising academic and creative excellence across the School’s programmes were presented to students by The Northern School of Art’s Principal, Dr Martin Raby, and Governor David Hughes.

Dr Raby said: “The Degree Show is a wonderful celebration of the creativity of our students and a fitting culmination of three years of study.

“The impressive range of work shows they have a bright future ahead of them in the creative industries.”

The Northern School of Art Degree Show highlights outstanding work through a range of student awards and present work from all graduating final year students across all BA (Hons) programmes including: BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen, BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design, BA (Hons) Digital Design & Advertising, BA (Hons) Film, TV & Theatre Production, BA (Hons) Fine Art, BA (Hons) Graphic Design, BA (Hon) Illustration for Commercial Application, BA (Hons) Model Making & Visual Effects, BA (Hons) Photography, BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage & Screen and BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design.

The Northern School of Art Degree Show takes place at 1 Church Street, Hartlepool, TS24 7DR from 29 May – 6 June 2024. The opening times are: Friday, 30th May & Saturday, 31st May, 10am–4pm: Monday, 2nd – Thursday, 5th June: 10am–7pm and Friday, 6th June: 10am–4pm.

Entrance is free and car parking is available.

The Award winners are as follows:

• Acting Student of the Year Award

Awarded to the Acting student who has produced the strongest work across different mediums.

Winner: Izzy Sander, BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen (pictured above)

• Animation Achievement Award

Winner: Ell Hockney, BA (Hons) Animation

• ARC Award for Best Solo Show

This award is given by an industry panel organised through the School’s partnership with ARC Stockton Arts Centre.

Winner: Arun Graves-Kochher, BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen

• BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation with Design – Student of the Year Award 2023

This award is an acknowledgement of a high degree of commitment and professionalism throughout the graduating students from BA (Hons) Costume Interpretation for Design.

Winner: Helen Mear, BA (Hons) Costume with Interpretation with Design

• BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design – Student of the Year

This award recognises the overall performance, approach to studying and achievement of graduating students from the BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design programme.

Winner: Frances Fletcher, BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design

• EPH ‘Moments of Wow’ Award – BA (Hons) Model Making and Visual FX/Production Design for Stage and Screen

Winner: Connor Curran, BA (Hons) Production Design for Stage and Screen

• Illustration Achievement Award

This award is given to the student who has shown an exceptional attitude within their practice, commitment to their studies and positive influence within the cohort.

Winner: Lauren Hubbert, BA (Hons) Illustration for Commercial Application

• New Graduate Award – Middlesbrough Art Weekender

The New Graduate Award is a post-education professional development opportunity. Middlesbrough Art Week (MAW) is a visual arts festival that occurs across Middlesbrough in galleries, institution, project spaces, museums and public and meanwhile spaces. The festival is open to all artistic mediums and can take the form of, but not limited to, exhibitions, installations, performance, talks, workshops, participatory projects and everything in-between.

The winners: Clare Massey, BA (Hons) Fine Art and Carl Truscott, BA (Hons) Photography

• Orbital FX Technical Excellence Award – BA (Hons) Model Making and Visual FX/Production Design for Stage and Screen

Winner: Connor Thompson, BA (Hons) Model Making and Visual FX

• Principal’s BA (Hons) Dissertation Prize 2024

This award is a means to recognise the high standard of work that is being presented by final year students. The prize is awarded in recognition of those whose research and debate resulted in an innovative approach to their subject, to the research, and to the debate.

Winner: Tee Preston-North, BA (Hons) Acting for Stage & Screen

• The BA (Hons) Photography Achievement Award

This award is in recognition of the student who has displayed a particular level of commitment and dedication to the practice and study of photography whilst an undergraduate on the BA Hons Photography programme. The award celebrates ability, development and progress.

Winner: Neil Bankhurst, BA (Hons) Photography

• The Barbara Hackwood Prize for Outstanding Creative Development

This BA (Hons) Fine Art award recognises the student who has shown the most progress and development during their three academic years with us. It bears the name of Barbara Hackwood who was a much-loved member of staff at The Northern School of Art.

Winner: Andrea Wood, BA (Hons) Fine Art

• The Daniel Ross Fine Art Prize for Consistent Excellence

The Daniel Ross Fine Art Prize recognises a student who has consistently excelled across all aspects of their studies during the three years of their programme. It bears the name of a student who excelled in everything he did during his time at The Northern School of Art.

Winners: Clare Massey, BA (Hons) Fine Art and Niki Widynska, BA (Hons) Fine Art

• The Gary Pearson Award (For Breaking Boundaries) Textiles & Surface Design

This award is in memory of Gary Pearson and is given to a student who has explored and pushed boundaries, whether they be personal, technical, visual or conceptual. During his time studying with at the School, Gary was on a personal journey of self-discovery and this award is presented annually to a student who it is felt has explored their own path, been brave, independent, asked questions of their personal practice and broken boundaries in their own journey.

Winner: Maggie Gregg, BA (Hons) Textiles & Surface Design

• The Gavin Murphy Achievement Award (Film Student of the Year Award)

This is given to the student who has displayed an excellent attitude in helping others and commitment to excellence throughout their studies. This reflects the memory of Gavin Murphy, a former student and staff member who would always go the extra mile to help others in pursuit of their dreams.

Winner: Jack Fowler, BA (Hons) Film, TV & Theatre Production

• The Sarah Cowell Design Impact Award

This award is given in memory of Sarah Cowell, a student who harnessed design to make a true impact, attempting to make the world a better place. An ambition shared by many, The Design Impact Award recognises students from across the design disciplines, that demonstrate their commitment to make a difference and addressing social issues.

Winner: Charlotte Reidy, BA (Hons) Graphic Design

• MA Design Practice – Student of the Year Award

This award is an acknowledgement of a high degree of commitment and professionalism throughout the graduating students from MA Design Practice.

Winner Hex Bonner and Jess Moore-Greenwood, MA Design Practice

• MA Directing & Theatre Making – Student of the Year Award

Winner: Jess Sample, MA Directing & Theatre Making

• Principal’s MA Dissertation Prize 2024

This award recognises the advanced ability of MA students in creating original directions through in-depth research, innovation and advanced scholarship.

Winner: Olivia Askwith, MA Design History