Local students are gearing up for the start of Middlesbrough Art Week and the Turner Prize’s arrival in the region.
Students from Middlesbrough College’s Art and Design and Fashion Communication departments will exhibit their own work as part of the celebrations.
The students will join MIMA’s Little Boro exhibition, which will see a temporary village of shipping containers packed with work from the region’s creative community take over Centre Square.
Opening on Thursday 24 September, the outdoor gallery will run for nine days, with the students encouraging members of the public to visit their very own shipping container exhibition, titled ‘Belonging’.
‘Belonging’ reflects the diverse experiences, cultures and stories that shape Middlesbrough. A variety of techniques will be on show, from videography and photography to printmaking, costume, fashion, and charcoal and black-and-white fine line drawings.
Kelly Lisle, Work Experience and Industry Placement Team Leader at Middlesbrough College, said: “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students. To have something as prestigious as the Turner Prize on our doorstep, while giving them the chance to showcase their talent to the thousands of people descending on our fantastic town, is incredibly exciting.
“Some of our students are also volunteering for Middlesbrough Art Week and are hosting Belonging, giving them even more opportunities to develop their skills and gain valuable experience.
“We’re all thrilled to be involved. Each piece will become part of a student’s portfolio, helping each young person to develop their career and grow in confidence.”
The students’ inspiration for Belonging draws on the town’s heritage, vibrant communities, and evolving future, celebrating and reimagining what it means to be from, live in, and connect with Middlesbrough through the eyes of the next generation of artists and designers.
Billie Jo, 17, from Middlesbrough, who is exhibiting, said: “It’s amazing to have our work displayed in the middle of the town where so many people will get to see it. We’ve all put a lot into creating pieces that show what the town and our community mean to us, so it’s a great feeling to be part of something this big.
“The course at Middlesbrough College has really helped me develop my skills, and it’s great to have opportunities like this provided to us through their links with the wider artistic community. Having the Turner Prize here makes it feel even more special. It’s given us the chance to be part of a major arts event and show people what young creatives in Middlesbrough can do. Art and Design has given me a place where I can truly be myself. It has helped me grow not only as an artist but also as a person.”
The Little Boro exhibition is in Centre Square, behind Middlesbrough Town Hall.
