University of Kent’s School of Music and Fine Art – Fine Art Degree Show, 18 – 24 May 2019.

The University of Kent’s School of Music and Fine Art presents Sweet FA… the Fine Art Degree Show 2019; an exhibition of work by 20 exciting, emerging international artists, set in the extraordinary environment of The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent.

Opening with a Private View on Saturday, May 18th, 1pm – 6pm, with, at 3pm speeches from special guests; the acclaimed artist Bob & Roberta Smith, Victoria Pomery, director of the Turner Contemporary Gallery, Margate, and Karen Cox, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Kent.

The exhibition is open to all and is free to attend. It is open to the public from Sunday 19 – Friday 24 May, 10am – 5pm. Please note the show is closed on Tuesday 21 May.

Continuing a tradition of showcasing bold, exploratory exhibitions by the University of Kent’s Fine Art students, visitors will encounter a broad range of artistic styles and media, an explosion of imagination and a celebration of art’s potential for society, framed by the backdrop of the Historic Dockyard Chatham. The exhibition will offer the public a fascinating insight into contemporary art’s most recent practices and processes.

The catalogue for this year’s show is designed in collaboration with MA Curation students from the University of Kent’s School of Arts

The Degree Show Address:
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TY
Entry for the private view is via The Galvanising Shop (next to the Dockyard’s visitors’ car park on the East Road, and for the rest of the exhibition, via The Historic Dockyard Chatham Visitor Entrance). http://thedockyard.co.uk/plan-your-visit/opening-times-directions/
SMFA Twitter: @unikentmfa
SMFA Website: http://www.kent.ac.uk/smfa
Fine Art Student Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fine.art.finale/?hl=en

Contact Details:
For further press information and images of the works on display please contact School Reception:
MFAReception@kent.ac.uk   or telephone 01634 888 980

The University of Kent is closing the School of Music and Fine Art and it will cease to exist after July 2019.  Sweet FA… is, therefore, its last Fine Art degree show!

Private View
Friday 7^th December
5-7pm
The Gallery, Sun Pier House, Chatham

Public Opening Times
Saturday 8^th – Tuesday 11^th December
Tuesday to Saturday 10am – 4pm
Sunday 12pm – 4pm
The Gallery, Sun Pier House, Chatham

The School of Music and Fine Art’s final BA Fine Art Interim Show will open on Friday 7th December at Sun Pier House, Chatham. The show will be open to the public from Saturday 8^th –Tuesday 11^th December. Last year’s show, held in the historic Chatham House, attracted over 300 visitors on the opening night. This is an event not to be missed!

On occasion the opening times may vary depending on the events schedule. Please contact Sun Pier House before travelling to confirm the Gallery will be open for your visit, on 01634 401 549. There is restricted disabled access at the venue, please contact Sun Pier House for further information.

Thursday 6^th December
1-3pm
The Guardhouse, Fort Amherst, Chatham

Event and Experience Design students have been investigating a site-specific installation this term. The site for their practice based projects is the Guardhouse at Fort Amherst. This is a restored building at the border of the currently accessible public part of the Fort and the unrestored area – an exciting liminal space to explore!

The students will present a series of individual responses to the Guardhouse and its context within a listed monument on the afternoon of Thursday 6^thDecember.

Wrap up and wear sturdy footwear and please wait at the café by the Fort Amherst visitor carpark. This event is FREE to attend but please book via Eventbrite.

Tuesday 20^th November
5 – 7pm
Clock Tower Lecture Theatre, Historic Dockyard Chatham

Sarah Pickstone is a painter who lives and works in London. She makes very large-scale paintings in watercolour with oil and draws extensively. Sarah has a particular interest in the contribution made by women artists and writers to visual and literary history and their creative processes.

In 2012, she won the John Moores Painting Prize and was a runner up for the prize in 2004. She exhibits internationally most recently in Shanghai, Seoul, Basel and Italy. She was recently commissioned by the Royal Academy of Arts as part of RA250 to create a homage to the work of the 18^th century female artist, Angelica Kauffman. The resulting two-part painting installation titled An Allegory of Painting, is currently in the Burlington house Hallway and Ramp Space, Royal Academy of Arts, Piccadilly London until August, 2019.

These events are FREE to attend and open to all. Book online at Eventbrite.

Tuesday 13^th November
5 – 7pm
Clock Tower Lecture Theatre, Historic Dockyard Chatham

“Art is what fills the gap between how the world is and how I’d love it to be.” – David Cross

David Cross will be speaking about critical engagement and context-specificity both in his individual work, and that of Cornford & Cross.

As a contemporary fine artist with Cornford & Cross, David produced sculptural installations that engage with issues at the intersection of visual culture, resource scarcity and conflict.

As a postgraduate educationalist, he encourages an interdisciplinary, research-oriented and socially engaged approach to the design profession.

Through participating in and facilitating public debate, he aims to stimulate critical engagement with the separation of cultural activity and everyday life.

These events are FREE to attend and open to all. Book online at Eventbrite.

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.

School of Music and Fine Art MA student Steve Kilmartin has organised an exhibition called Through The Lens –  Festival of Photography, running from 31st August to 8th September.  Held at St Mary In The Castle, Hastings, East Sussex,  this magical festival is for any photographer, photo-enthusiast, keen amateur or anyone who wants to see the world through a different lens. Offering a mix of world-class guest speakers, with new emerging photographic talent exhibiting alongside well-established photographers,  viewers can see contemporary photography and reportage all under one roof. There is also an opportunity to submit photographic work – closing date for submissions is 1^st July.

More info: http://ttlfest.co.uk/