For the past few weeks, and largely unremarked in the media, an extraordinary arts festival has been taking place in practically every major town and city in the land: the degree shows of art, design, fashion and architecture students at Britain’s colleges and universities.
Some, such as Leeds University's ingenious show Wunderkammer, which drew inspiration from the curiosity cabinets assembled by collectors in the 17th and 18th centuries, have sadly finished, although you can still view an online gallery of work displayed at Manchester Metropolitan University’s Art and Design degree show. Many others are still in full swing. To mark Liverpool's reign as the 2008 Capital of Culture, John Moore’s University is showcasing the work of its art and design students in venues across the city; you’ve got until this Thursday, 26 June, to catch its Fine Art degree show.
The five colleges that now make up the University of the Arts in London can boast Sarah Lucas, John Galliano, Gilbert and George and Antony Gormley among their alumni, so it’s well worth checking out what their successors are up to. Central St Martin’s show runs until next Saturday 28 June, while those at Camberwell School of Art and the London College of Fashion continue into July.
Goldsmiths College in south-east London also has a distinguished reputation for creativity and flair. Its postgraduate show of Fine Art; Textiles and Creative Curating can be seen from Friday 11 July until Monday 14 July.
Edinburgh College of Art’s graduate exhibition Degrees of Excellence showcases the work of some 400 students. The Art and Design show has only a couple of days left to run, until 24 June, though you can see the work of the college’s architecture students until 4 July.
Finally, anyone hoping to spot the next John Rocha has just one day left to nipdown to his old stomping ground and catch the Croydon Fashion Festival, showcasing work from students at Croydon College’s prestigious fashion department.
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