This June, S1 Artspace is co-hosting AMPERSAND Sheffield Hallam University's
Fine Art Degree Show, Creative Spark.
Now in its sixth year, Creative Spark includes work from across the university's
Art & Design School and gives visitors a chance to see the creativity and
imagination of Hallam's final year students. The Fine Art and Creative Art Practice
(CAP) students will be shown across two sites, S1 Artspace and Arundel Gate
Court. This is the first year these courses have exhibited together since the
inauguration of the CAP course in 2008. The combination of courses seeks to
explore the diversity of contemporary visual-art practices emerging from UK art
schools today and is a poignant moment in Creative Spark's history.
"Creative Spark gives everyone the chance to experience some of Sheffield's
best new creative talent, from the city's long-established institute for creative
education at Sheffield Hallam University. [...] From Fine Art to Engineering, in
five venues in the heart of the city's Cultural Industries Quarter, Creative Spark is
a very special fortnight in the city's calendar of events." Director of Sheffield Institute
of Arts at the University, Professor Chris Rust.
S1 Artspace has a long-standing relationship with Sheffield Hallam University
since former tutors founded the organisation over 15 years ago. In 2010,
S1 initiated the Studio Bursary Programme, a six-month artist professional
development programme specifically aimed at supporting graduating Fine Art
students at Sheffield Hallam. This year's Bursary awardees include Natalie
Finnemore, Darren Johnson, David McLeavy and Sarah Pinfold who will all be
exhibiting in AMPERSAND.
In co-hosting this year's degree show S1 Artspace seeks to actively encourage
the development of emerging artists in Sheffield, reinforcing the existing artistic
infrastructure and maintaining the energy, ambition and diversity of Sheffield as a
centre for contemporary art within the UK.
The Creative Spark exhibition is free and open to the general public from Saturday 11 June
to Saturday 25 June, at five venues around Sheffield Hallam University's City Campus.
For opening times and directions visit www.shu.ac.uk/creativespark |
