Visual Arts students showcased their final projects across three sites in Canterbury as part of the end of year show “Showoff,” exhibiting in EKC Canterbury College, UCA Canterbury School of Art, Architecture and Design, and Sidney Cooper Gallery in Canterbury High Street.
Sidney Cooper Gallery, owned by Canterbury City Council, has been closed for eight years but has reopened, allowing our students to be the first to exhibit.
This historical relevance to the City, being Canterbury’s first art school, made the student showcase even more momentous.
Ophelia, who is a Level 3 Photography student, said: “I think it’s really important for me to show my work off; to show my skills and what I’ve learned over the past two years. Hopefully, people will get inspiration from my work.”
The three exhibitions included students’ work across various subjects including Art and Design, Photography, Graphic Design, Fashion and Textiles, and Creative Enterprise. Students from Level 2 to Level 4 have taken part.
One student, George, has studied with EKC Canterbury College from Level 2 Visual Communications to Level 3 Photography and is now completing his Level 4 Professional Diploma in Creative Enterprise.
George said: “I’ve definitely learned a lot over the four years that I’ve been here. I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way and been there supporting me.
“Being at the Sidney Cooper Gallery is a good opportunity for us to expose ourselves as a College and giving the opportunity for others to follow a similar path to where we are now. It’s good to have it in the centre of the City.”
The exhibitions concluded with a private viewing on Friday 26 June, allowing students’ friends and family to view the work.
Level 3 Art and Design student, Heidi, said: “It’s nice to see my work and see everyone else’s; to see the different kinds of art that is created in the College.”
Ben Kidger, Head of Visual Arts at EKC Canterbury College, commented: ” Students always up their game when they know they have somewhere like the Sidney Cooper Gallery to show. They make more ambitious work, push their concepts and in most cases, the scale of their work.
“We are exceptionally grateful to Canterbury City Council for all their work in getting the space ready for our students’ End of Year Show, which they did speedily, so that it became available in the time we needed it.”
A big thank you to all the staff and students involved for yet another successful end-of-year event celebrating the students’ work.
If you’re interested in exploring your own artistic potential, check out our Visual Arts courses.
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