An exhibition of work by students from the NC Art and Design and BA Fine Art courses at Orkney College UHI Department of Art and Design is currently open to the public.

The NC Art and Design course has 10 full time and 11 part time students. According to Lecturer Roan McNichol it is a popular course attracting a wide age range, with some people retaining ties to the department and returning following completion. The work on show is diverse – you can see everything from graphic novels to textiles, film, jewellery, and other disciplines including of course Fine Art.

The BA Fine Art Course has 18 students exhibiting, from 1st to 3rd year. There are currently no 4th year students, hence the exhibition title “Work in Progress | Work and Progress.” The pieces on show are thought-provoking and address subject matter variously including family ties, body image, hidden disability, war, politics, and natural forms. Some of the work is conceptual and Dada-influenced, while some is of a more representational nature.

Lecturer Cordelia Underhill said that mature students often begin the BA course with prior experience, for example in the field of landscape painting, but that everyone is encouraged to push themselves creatively and to express themselves freely in a variety of media.

These are challenging times for the arts in numerous ways and across all sectors. Inequality, global trade wars, austerity politics, Covid-19, and the developments of machine learning algorithms all present a serious challenge to creative people. Staffing levels at the Orkney College UHI Department of Art and Design are much reduced from the pre-pandemic years, and budgets are tight. The arts are important to everyone’s mental health and well-being, but undervalued.

It is a testament to the creativity and resourcefulness of the staff and students at Orkney College UHI that they have been able to put together such a high quality exhibition.

Work in Progress | Work and Progress is open daily from Saturday 7th June to Saturday 14th June 10am—4pm (closed Sunday), at the Department of Art and Design, Orkney College UHI, East Road, Kirkwall, KW15 1LX.

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