Manchester's biggest free art show

MANCHESTER’s largest free art exhibition opens its doors at MMU on June 18.

Around 1,500 art and design students display their degree show work to family, friends and the public for five days to June 23.

Each year thousands of visitors attend the eclectic and vibrant event which dominates MMU’s All saints campus on Oxford Road in the heart of the city.

Graduates will be showing in fine art, sculpture, fashion, textiles, interior design, architecture, landscape, print, three-dimensional design, new media, TV production, photography, embroidery, animation and more.

Organized and partially funded by the students themselves, the shows challenges the London universities’ conventional dominance of the art scene.

Frank Sidebottom, Manchester’s new “Matron of the Arts”, will be cutting the ribbon at the Fine Art Degree Show Specto at 6pm at the Grosvenor Building, All Saints.

Specto presents work by nearly 80 students including the traditional disciplines of painting, printmaking and sculpture as well as photography, video and installation art. Pure abstraction and rigid geometry contrast with more figurative pieces and conceptual art. The works explore themes ranging from the uncanny and the sublime to the body and fantasy and myth. Many of the works draw inspiration from contemporary art while others show more traditional influences.

Many of the students have already held group exhibitions independently of the university during the three-year course. Previous graduates include notable local artists Martin Murrey and Liam Spencer.

Art and Design Degree Shows start on Friday 18th June, 6-9pm and continues until Wednesday 23rd June. Viewers are welcome on Sat and Sun 10-4pm, and Mon to Weds 10-6pm.