The School of Music and Fine Art presents the 2018 Graduation Shows for Fine Art and Event and Experience Design at the University of Kent, Medway, Historic Dockyard Chatham which celebrate the creative work and achievements of our talented students.  The Fine Art show is We Are Here: 51°23’44.3″N 0°31’42.5″E… with the Event and Experience Design Showcase titled Fusion.

This year, we are delighted that the guest speaker for the opening preview on Saturday May 19^th, 1pm – 6pm, will be Liz Moran, the University of Kent’s Director of Arts & Culture.

Comments Liz: “Kent is very fortunate to have such inspirational and creative students supported by an incredibly talented and respected staff team. I look forward to the exhibition which I have no doubt will challenge, provoke, excite, surprise and demonstrate that despite challenging times young artists prove the arts are very much alive, vibrant and thriving.”

Liz began her career working with young people in Scotland and witnessed the transformative effect that engaging with the arts has when and if young people have the opportunity.  Following this, she became the first Director of the new Paisley Arts Centre which opened with artist and playwright John Byrne’s trilogy The Slab Boys. In 1991 she became Director of the MacRobert Arts Centre in Stirling and embarked on a major capital development to extend and develop the building all designed by young people working in partnership with the Architect. This included a new state of the art cinema and children and young people’s gallery space called Arthouse. Liz became Director of Gulbenkian in 2011 initiating the ART31 project designed to empower children and young people to have a voice and greater access to creative opportunities and bOing! International Family Festival. In 2014 Gulbenkian became a National Portfolio Organisation with Arts Council England. In 2017 she became the University’s first Director of Arts and Culture and her plans include an International Festival of Dangerous Ideas in 2019.

The Degree Show exhibitions are open to all and free to attend. To get your ticket for the special opening Private View, please go to https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/school-of-music-fine-art-2018-graduation-shows-private-view-tickets-44642318376

The shows are open to the public: Sunday 20^th – Saturday 26^th May: 10am – 5pm (Closed: Tuesday 22^nd May).  Click https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/school-of-music-and-fine-art-2018-graduation-shows-tickets-44643012452  to get your special Visitor Pass for the Degree Show and access to the Historic Dockyard, Chatham.