Best of Manchester shortlist

MMU’s outstanding artists and designers might just be the Best in Manchester!

The Best of Manchester Awards at Urbis has unveiled its shortlist for the 2009 awards for the city’s rising stars of Art, Music and Fashion.

And three are former MMU students!

Best of Manchester offers a £2,000 prize and chance to impress some of the kingmakers of the creative industries. A distinguished judging panel includes Wayne Hemingway, Turner Prize winner Jeremy Deller, Flic Everett and MMU graduate artists Peter Saville, Liam Spencer and DJ Semtex.

Head of Fashion at the university, Alison Welsh is also on the judging panel.

Innovative

Out of 250 entries, the 9 shortlisted include Contents May Vary aka Elizabeth Murphy, Alice Bradshaw and Richard Shields, an artistic group that have staged innovative exhibitions at events as diverse as Artranspennine08, the Northern Art Prize and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.

In fashion, MMU has two shortlisted for the prize: Holly Russell and Katie Webb, both recent graduates of the BA Fashion course.

Holly’s creations include a shimmering dress collection with hundreds of hand-sewn scarab beetle wings. Katie’s understated, architectural collection was highlighted for its minimalist designs, technical skill and environmental awareness.

In 2008 the multi-talented Nabil El Nayal, another graduate of the BA Fashion course was a runner-up in the Fashion category in 2008.

Professionals

Vaughan Allen, chief executive of Urbis said: “It is vital that Manchester supports its creative industries, and that’s what the Best of Manchester is all about; recognising, supporting and nurturing the city’s creative professionals – when they’re on the verge of making it!”