Students recognised at Lancashire Arts Festival Awards
Artistic students from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) have been recognised for their talents by Creative Lancashire.
The very best of student work being exhibited this week as part of the University’s Lancashire Arts Festival Degree Show has been acknowledged at a special awards ceremony sponsored by Creative Lancashire; Lancashire County Council’s team dedicated to raising the profile of creative industries in the area.
In total, 15 awards were presented to students from a variety of creative disciplines including architecture, design, fine art, fashion, global studies, languages, media and performance. The judging panel included sculpture, businessman and Chair of Creative Lancashire Charles Hadcock.
Creative Lancashire’s Creative Director and owner of Beverley Wood Design, Bev Wood, presented the Awards.
She said: “The nominees have done a phenomenal job and all deserve to be here. Businesses need innovators and these students have passion and value to take with them beyond university into industry. I wish them every success.”
"These awards are now in the seventh year and I’m delighted that so many of our awards winners are now playing key roles in furthering the success story of the UK’s creative industries"
The creative gongs were handed to Tyler Best, Jemma Dixon, Kelly Graves, Sara Louise Hood, Holly Hughes, Natalie Jeffers, Anna James, Alex (Lexi) Murrant, Arrooj Nawaz, Muhammad Yaseen Patel, Daniel Smith, Sam Smith, Rainer Townend, Enzo Vellin, Samuel Graham Williams Joy and (Diana) Ya Wang.
Chinese and Japanese languages student Samuel Graham Williams Joy won the Languages prize. The 25-year-old said: “It was a complete surprise and a lovely reward. It’s not been easy learning two Asian languages at the same time but I’ve really enjoyed the challenge.”
Theatre student Kelly Graves, 21, was awarded the Performance (Acting and Theatre) Award. She said: “My final piece of work combined martial arts training with performance theatre in an East meets West project. This award means the world to me and it’s events like this that make you feel like all the hard work was worthwhile.”
UCLan Vice Chancellor Professor Mike Thomas congratulated all of the Lancashire Arts Festival nominees. He said: “These awards are now in the seventh year and I’m delighted that so many of our awards winners are now playing key roles in furthering the success story of the UK’s creative industries.
“Growing at almost twice the rate of the wider economy and, according to latest Government figures, worth a staggering £92 billion a year, our Creative Industries are well and truly thriving and here at the University of Central Lancashire we are determined to ensure its continued growth and success.”
All of the winning work is on display as part of the Lancashire Arts Festival Degree show until Friday, 22 June.