“I guess students should take the degree show seriously but they shouldn’t fuck up their time beforehand worrying about the thing – that’s stupid.”
Welsh artist and Central Saint Martins graduate Bedwyr Williams has a slightly strained but broadly positive relationship with the idea of degree shows, as he explains in this year’s just published a-n Degree Shows Guide 2016.
Typically candid and witty, Williams is one of many voices in the 58-page publication – the biggest yet – which also features mima director and 2015 Turner Prize judge Alistair Hudson talking about art education today; artists including Ruth Ewan, George Barber and Marianna Simnett remembering their own degree shows; and the views of a selection of this year’s graduates from across the UK.
Edited by Chris Sharratt, other features in the guide include Q&As with XL Catlin Art Prize selector Justin Hammond, New Art West Midlands curator Rachel Bradley, and 2016 RSA New Contemporaries selector Stuart Mackenzie. All three share their thoughts on the significance of degree shows and how they have changed in recent years while we also catch up with one of last year’s featured students 12 months on from graduation.
With listings for over 75 degree shows plus a visually eclectic selection of work by 2016 graduates, a-n Degree Shows Guide 2016 is a lively and informative read that has once again been brightly and elegantly designed by Newcastle’s Founded studio.
Available digitally on Issuu, for a smooth, intuitive reading experience on phone or tablet you can download the free Issuu app for iOS or Android. The guide is also available to read as a pdf, download it here.
So, enjoy this year’s degree shows season and please share with us your views and pictures from the shows you get to via Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, using the hashtag #andegrees16.
a-n Degree Shows 2016 Instagram takeover
Be part of a-n’s Degree Shows 2016 coverage.
We’re offering a-n members around the UK a chance to take over our Instagram feed to promote this summer’s degree shows through a series of images.
See jobs and opps for full details. Deadline for applications midday 12 May 2016.
Not yet a member? Sign up at www.a-n.co.uk to take part.
