Westminster has launched this year’s Degree Shows season which runs until 30 June. The shows give graduates from Westminster’s School of Arts, School of Architecture and Cities and School of Media and Communication a platform to showcase their final projects in exhibitions and live events across London.
The series kicked off on 18 April with the Foundation in Art and Design Degree Show. This was followed by the Museum of the Future on 3 May, where Digital Media BA Honours students fast forwarded 100 years into the future where sustainability goals had been achieved across the planet. Looking towards this future, the third-year students created digital and physical artefacts for a Museum of the Future to represent how the world positively transformed since 2024. This was followed by Contemporary Media Practice BA Honours students who took part in the Metamorphosis Degree Show between 10-15 May.
Next up on 29 May the BA Music Degree Show – Indie/Pop saw graduates from the Music Production, Performance and Business BA Honours course showcase an array of musical performances at the East London live music venue Signature Brew Haggerston.
Between 30 May – 6 June a variety of events will take place, including the BA Fine Art Mixed Media Degree Show which will run throughout these dates at the Ambika P3 Gallery. Westminster will also hold the BA Music Degree Show – Rap/RnB on 5 June at Peckham Audio, and the achievements from Animation BA Honours graduates will be celebrated on the big screen at the BA Animation Showcase at the Regent Street Cinema on 6 June.
The shows continue with Illustration BA Honours and Graphic Design BA Honours graduates taking part in the showcase Kaleidoscope at London Gallery West and Project Space at Westminster’s Harrow Campus between 7-20 June.
On 14 June Fashion Design BA Honours graduates will host a runway show to reveal their portfolio at the Ambika P3 Gallery. University of Westminster students are renowned for the quality of the finish with their looks and this year they have taken this to even greater heights.
The summer season will then see the start of OPEN 2024, a celebration of work from the School of Architecture and Cities, which will run between 14-30 June. The inventiveness of the projects on show will reflect the creative serendipity that characterises the day-to-day life of the School and the mix of experiences and views that are critical to any exploration of architecture and place.
The tail end of the season will see Westminster host the MA Menswear Fashion Show at the Ambika P3 Gallery on 18 June, where Menswear MA graduates will display their collections on the runway. Previous Menswear MA students include Priya Ahluwalia, founder of the fashion brand Ahluwalia and recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design.
Photography plays a key part of Westminster’s Degree Shows and on 20 June Photography BA Honours graduates will have the opportunity to show their work at the Graduate 2024 Show hosted at Truman Brewery. Throughout the year the students have explored a wide range of themes and concerns, from deeply personal work about family, history, race, gender, mental health and identity, to the shifting demographics caused by urban and rural gentrification. The work produced in this year’s degree show is a testament to the determination and ambition of the students.
Professor Catherine Dormor, Head of Westminster School of Arts, said: “We are excited to announce the Westminster School of Art summer show season. Across Music, Art and Fashion the shows are all live on our campuses and online on our Graduate Show website. Work on show covers a range of themes including gender inclusivity, racism, cultural appropriation, mental health and wellbeing, demonstrating ways in which our students engage with contemporary contexts critically and creatively. Students have been supported by a range of industry partners throughout their courses through work placements, material donations, mentoring and discounts on production. We are indebted to everyone who has helped our students to flourish and deliver such a vibrant and thought-provoking set of shows. Congratulations to the Class of 2024!”
Michaela O’Brien, Head of the School of Media and Communication, added: “We are delighted to launch the 2024 Degree Shows. Our BA Digital Media students kicked off the season with a wonderful display of digital, audio-visual and physical artefacts. Drawing from notions of speculative futures, they imagined better futures by creating artefacts for a Museum of the Future. This combines the School's focus on both the Sustainable Development Goals and the use of creative technology in media and design, themes that are echoed throughout our students’ degree shows."
Professor Andrew Groves, Professor of Fashion Design, added: "I'm really looking forward to this year's final Degree Shows. Our students have poured their passion, creativity, and dedication into their work, and I am thrilled for the public to witness their extraordinary talent and innovative spirit."
The Degree Shows directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, as each one gives graduates the chance to showcase their work to industry professionals and gain vital experience to boost their careers. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
Get more information about the Westminster Degree Shows 2024.
Find out more about the College of Design, Creative and Digital Industries at the University of Westminster.
