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Manchester Crat & Design Centre
This year we are celebrating the 10th anniversary of
our Graduate Solo Exhibition Award, an annual prize
awarded to a Manchester Metropolitan University
graduate who shows exceptional talent and
potential. The award supports designer-makers in the
challenging period between graduation and setting
up their creative business, and includes a year of be-
spoke professional development support from the
MCDC team as well as a solo exhibition. Our 10 win-
ners, from 2006 to 2016 are: Leanne Bramhall, Beth
Essex, Eve Bennett, Jenny Bland, Clare Knox-Betham,
Laura Jane Blake, Joseph Hartley, Elizabeth Jane
Winstanley, Rosie Booth, and Verity Howard.
Our 10th winner's exhibition 'Behind Closed Doors:
Ceramics by Verity Howard' runs from 25 Feb - 29 May
2016 at MCDC. We've programmed 10 celebratory
events, activities and commissions (including this
newspaper) to accompany the exhibition, allowing us
to engage with local emerging makers, provide new
development opportunities, and raise the profile of
our award. Read on for more about these events, as
well as interviews with past winners and the curators
that worked with them.
For event tickets and more information about this
newspaper and our support for graduates, please vis-
it our project website: cratanddesign.com/mmu10.
Celebrating 10 Years of Graduate Talent
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2 MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Rosie Booth and MCDC Director Kate Day, 2014
The Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award was
set up in 2006, initially for graduates of the 3D Design
degree (it has since been awarded to students from
the Embroidery and Textiles In Practice degree pro-
grammes). Helen Felcey, Programme Leader: MA De-
sign at MMU, was involved in setting up the Award
and her relationship with the Centre and the award
continues to this day. We spoke to Helen about the
impact of the Award on the students:
"The Art School is very grateful for our long-stand-
ing relationship with Manchester Crat & Design
Centre. The benefits that the Centre has brought
to our graduates over many years through work
experience, public engagement events, exhibition
opportunities and a significant number having
held businesses there have all provided fantastic
opportunities to apply the skills they have devel-
oped." - Helen Felcey
Since 2006, three MCDC curators have worked with
the graduates to deliver the 10 solo exhibitions and
give hundreds of hours of one-to-one advice on key
issues such as marketing and pricing, and providing
contacts for new commissions and opportunities. We
caught up with them to find out more about the
award...
Jack Hale:Awards 1 & 2
"Various pressures were leading the Crat & Design
Centre towards becoming a crat shopping centre,
and in order for the Centre to thrive we needed to re-
connect with the wider crat and education sector. We
wanted to support new talent as well as our estab-
lished resident makers and also to freshen up the ex-
perience for the visiting public.
To do this we established a number of new schemes
including a studio supported by Arts Council England,
a studio for use by Manchester City College students,
and the Graduate Award in collaboration with MMU.
The Award both supported the work of newly gradu-
ated students and enabled us to establish a new cu-
rated exhibition programme which was crucial for fu-
ture development of the Centre. I am very happy to
know that 10 years on, the Graduate Award is still go-
ing strong."
Jack Hale is the co-founder of the Manchester Mod-
ernist Society and Editor of The Modernist Magazine.
Kelda Savage: Awards 1, 2, 3 and 4
"It is always an exciting time awarding a prize to a
graduate and offering them an exhibit ion
opportunity. Connecting and working with emerging
talent at the start of their creative career provides a
supportive process for new experiences. I very much
enjoyed working closely with Leanne Bramall, Eve
Bennett, Beth Essex and Jenny Bland to share
thoughts and ideas, practical skills and engage in crit-
ical discussion. Each artist showcased their work in a
solo exhibition and offered talks and workshops for
visitors to MCDC. As an established venue, MCDC was
able to form and build a strong relationship with
MMU which has gone from strength to strength."
Kelda is an independent curator and works with Wa-
terside Arts, Creative Industries Trafford, and the
Great Northern Contemporary Crat Fair, amongst
other projects.
Dena Bagi: Awards 5, 6, 7
"It is only ater being asked to write some words on
the MMU graduate prize, that I can see how important
the Award is, both for the makers' professional devel-
opment and for MCDC, as an artist-incubator. The de-
velopment and delivery of a solo show as a recent
graduate is a great opportunity - not only for expo-
sure, as people oten think - but for the professional
development that this creative process provides. It
also gives MCDC a chance to spot, support and track
these makers through their ongoing career's. They
engage in CPD programmes, become resident
makers, and secure other creative opportunities at
the Centre.
The prize also awards makers' support outside of the
Centre. Take Joe Hartley, the last MMU prizewinner
during my time at the Centre, for example. He has
featured in my professional practice since leaving, se-
curing exhibitions and community engagement roles
at the British Ceramics Biennial. I'll look forward to
seeing how makers, like Joe, can be supported by
MCDC development opportunities over the next 10
years."
Dena is now the Community and Education Pro-
gramme Manager at the British Ceramics Biennial.
Kaylee Jenkinson - Awards 7, 8, 9, 10
"I've been lucky enough to work with four of the grad-
uate winners - starting my role here half way through
Joe Hartley's exhibition. The degree show is a yearly
highlight for me - seeing the wide range of work and
talking directly to the students about their portfolios
and plans for the future is always exciting. Plus of
course their reactions to winning the Award is always
a joy - Liz Winstanley's response will take a lot of
beating I think! Spending a year working with the
winning maker and seeing their work evolve is really
rewarding. Supporting talented graduates is a key
part of what we do here, and it is something that's
grown throughout the past 10 years both in our exhi-
bition space, on our website, and through our
studios. We are proud to be talent spotters for the fu-
ture generations of crat and design makers!"
Dena Bagi presents Joe Hartley with his award in 2012
10 Years, 10 Awards
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3MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Each year, along with other industry professionals,
we are invited each to view the students' work before
the Manchester School of Art Degree Show opens to
the public. Intrepid award-hunters head out across
the University in search of their winners - prizes are
also given by the Royal Exchange Crat Shop, Blue-
coat Display Centre, Makers Dozen, Ferrious, and
GNCCF amongst others. Students stand with their
work and talk to the judges - we're always interested
in what's inspired the student, how they made their
work, and whether they have any post-graduation
plans.
We spoke to Joe McCullagh, Head of Design and Asso-
ciate Dean for Learning and Teaching at the Manch-
ester School of Art, about the Award reaching this
special anniversary:
"This Award is a very special and celebratory one
being the 10-year anniversary. The Award is a vital
career boost for our award-winning students
where their creativity and individual talent is be-
ing recognised by an institute so well respected as
MCDC. This fantastic Award with its mentorship
and support helps our students in the ever-chal-
lenging space between leaving university and get-
ting started being a designer/maker. Importantly,
the Award also emphasises the importance of crat
and design today and its investment in the makers
and designers of the future. This important rela-
tionship between MCDC and Manchester School of
Art/MMU is a unique one, not only for the region
but for crat importance nationally. The Award en-
ables us to work together to celebrate all that is
truly great about crat and design. We wish every-
one a happy 10-year anniversary to past, present
and future award winners. - Joe McCullagh
We asked what advice our winners would give to students in their final year. Here's what they said…
"If you're in your third year right now make use of the
facilities, become familiar with equipment and keep
in touch with tutors and peers. When you graduate
don't stop, collaboration really is a great way to make
things happen. I formed a contemporary crat collec-
tive, MidConversation, for three years with fellow Em-
broidery graduates Elizabeth Atherton & Lucy Crow-
der. It saw us create works for the likes of The Muse-
um Of Science & Industry and The National Trust and
has formed the foundation of 90% of applications
and proposals I make now. It is always fun to be
working towards deadlines with other people too!" -
Laura Blake
"Don't rely on an opportunity finding you; it is very
much about you creating them for yourself. Make
contacts, and keep seeking out opportunities." -
Rosie Booth
"Start thinking of yourself as a practitioner, not just a
student! Start professionalising your practice NOW.
I've seen a lot of graduates hold themselves back
from opportunities because they don't feel ready as
they've only just graduated, but don't wait! No-one in
the creative sector really cares how long ago you
graduated as long as your work is innovative, creative
and interesting." - Clare Knox-Bentham
"Don't panic and work hard. If you enjoy what you're
working on and it interests you then you'll do well.
Have confidence in your own work and trust your
own judgements about your work's integrity."
- Verity Howard
"Just get involved with stuff that's going on, if you
cant find it, start it!! Then people will find you...
Speak to everybody and don't dismiss opportunities
on face value and remember that you are an exten-
sion of your work and vice versa, so be there around
it whenever you can to talk about it and enrich it with
your personality." - Joe Hartley
"Take opportunities that come your way and keep ap-
plying yourself to what you enjoy most about your
work. That will drive you to make pieces that you en-
joy the most!" -Beth Essex
"Throughout school, college and early university I al-
ways strived to get top marks but never seemed to
achieve them. It was a challenging journey. I oten felt
like I wasn't quite good enough but I never gave up. I
embarked on my final year with a different attitude. I
believed in myself and drew strength from within, fo-
cusing on the power of positive projection. Possibili-
ties are only limited by your imagination and you can
achieve absolutely anything you want if you put your
mind to it and work hard. I finally achieved a good
grade. It wasn't just my thinking that changed, I also
let go of striving for a particular outcome and instead
I focused on what I was producing, which in turn re-
sulted in a higher standard of work and I obtained a
place at The Royal College of Art. Work hard, stay fo-
cused, get back up when you've been knocked down,
believe in yourself and your work and most impor-
tantly love what you do." - LizWinstanley
Eve Bennett in her studio (Photo credit: Mark
Heeley Photography)
"Don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you can,
I'm always asking questions. And try not to skimp on
materials if you can help it." -Eve Bennett
"1. Have courage in your conviction - it's something
that my ceramics teacher always said to me and real-
ly resonates with me, even now! And 2: Make the
most of the facilities and expertise available - explore
and learn as it's unlikely that you will ever have those
at your fingertips again." - Leanne Bramhall
Liz Winstanley's exhibition coming to life for
Northern Quarter Ater Dark 2014
1st winner Leanne Bramhall's exhibition, 'A Coastal
Archive' in 2007 (Photo credit: Kelda Savage)
Who's next..?!
Key things we look for in a winner include passion,
enthusiasm, commitment, and scope for develop-
ment - on top of ambitious, unique and well-made
work that has a clear signature style. This year's De-
gree Show takes place from 11 - 22 June 2016 across
the Benzie, Grosvenor and Chatham Buildings (MMU
All Saints Campus). We'll pick our 11th winner at the
private view on Friday 10 June - keep an eye on our
website and to see who we choose!
It could be you...
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4 MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Award 2 - 2007
3D Design
Beth combined textiles, porcelain and metal to make
delicate jewellery pieces influenced by research into
family heirlooms. Using traditional textile skills
passed down from her mother, Beth's sentimental
pieces also questioned people's attitudes towards
sentimentality in today's 'throwaway' culture. Beth's
exhibition was held from 11/04/08 - 28/06/08. Beth
was awarded the prize for the sensitivity shown in her
use of materials and techniques - porcelain, silver
and silk threads - using knitting, crochet, knotting,
soldering and drawing.
What are you doing now? I have totally changed my
field of work for lots of reasons. I got a different de-
gree and now work in prosthetics down in the South
West.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: Setting up the
degree show was stressful but exciting. I had a cabi-
net of porcelain and metal pieces and silk, metal and
pearl jewellery. I remember being so pleased when it
was all set up, lit up bits sparkled. Then standing
back thinking: phew, made it in time!
When I was awarded the solo show I was thrilled to
bits! MCDC is a place I came to as a child and remem-
bered the glass roof and light - I grew up abroad and
saw MCDC on a visit so ending up exhibiting there
was pretty special.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? The exhibition
put me in contact with the public that were interest-
ed in seeing and buying my work, and also with the
makers within MCDC. It was lovely to talk about my
work and flattering to sell it. The exhibition started
my career as a jeweller; from it I gained confidence
for other exhibitions and it set things rolling for me.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? I am still in
touch with different makers at MCDC as I worked
there during my degree and following my exhibition
for a few years.
Although for a number of different reasons I changed
career into healthcare I am still so grateful and glad
that I exhibited my design work at MCDC.
Eve Bennett
What are you doing now? I'm currently on maternity
leave, but I work for Clarks HQ in Somerset as an e-
commerce visual merchandiser managing their Ger-
man website (Clarks.de).
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? The Award gave
me lots of exposure and led to some fantastic oppor-
tunities to exhibit around the UK. It was an excellent
experience learning about curating an exhibition with
the added support and expertise from MCDC.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? Since win-
ning the Award and graduating from MMU, I relocated
to Bristol so unfortunately haven't been in close con-
tact with MCDC. However, whenever I visit Manch-
ester I make a point of calling in to see what's going
on - it's such a fantastic resource!
Jewellery by Beth Essex
Leanne Bramhall
Award 1 - 2006
3D Design
Leanne created site-specific installations that ex-
plored the coastline of the Isle of Man. She created re-
sponses to the environment by using clay, visual
study, reflection, and evaluation, and was influenced
by tidal-graphs, coastal textures from discarded ob-
jects and colours from boats, ropes, and buoys.
Leanne's exhibition was called 'A Coastal Archive' and
ran from 06/04/07 - 23/06/07. MCDC commissioned
Leanne to produce a new piece of work for the exhibi-
tion, and invited the public to see her working on the
installation.
Eve Bennett's owls. Photo: Mark Heeley
Photography
Award 3 - 2008
3D Design
www.facebook.com/EveBennettCeramics
Eve won the award for her degree show collection of
handmade lifesize ceramic dead birds, which illus-
trated a tragic (yet humorous) childhood story. Eve's
work is both whimsical and touching as a result, com-
memorating those who have shaped her life by gath-
ering stories and items of sentimental value, and cre-
ating installations which celebrate both the living
and the dead. Eve's exhibition was called 'Head Full
of Magic' and was on at MCDC from 16/05/09 -
01/08/09. The exhibition featured groups of little
porcelain mice dotted around the building, butter-
flies displayed in traditional museum cases, ceramic
dead birds and frogs in cabinets, alongside other ob-
jects which told touching stories. Eve's ceramic 'Dead
Birds' are on permanent display at MCDC in the front
staircase.
What are you doing now? I moved to Stafford to be
closer to my family and I have set up a ceramic
studio.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: My mother
Cynthia passed away in 2007 whilst I was studying at
University. I decided to commemorate her life
through a ceramic medium illustrating a family inci-
dent narrated by my father Ian Bennett. I tried to
choose a subject matter for this installation that
would inspire an emotional response from the
viewer. I used ceramics as a vehicle to represent a se-
ries of childhood memories.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? It was a proud
honour to win this award and to celebrate my
mother's life. I distinctly recall how in awe I was when
I saw the exhibition space. I can still remember how
the natural light filtered through the roof enhancing
the subtle colours of my work (a contrast to the dark
times I had felt whilst creating the work). It helped
me establish more exhibitions, and the knowledge of
setting up shows was invaluable to my future
Here we look back at the 10 award winners, from 2006 to 2016. We asked each winner to tell us about what they're up to now, what they remember from their degree show, and how the prize has impacted their careers.
'A Coastal Archive' by Leanne Bramhall (Photo:
Kelda Savage)
Beth Essex
10 Years, 10 Winners
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5MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Award 6 - 2011
Embroidery
www.laurajaneblake.com
Laura brings form to life through the construction
and animation of textile sculptures, inspired by
movements in both natural and industrial
landscapes. Laura's award-winning sculptures were
based on industrial sacks which she saw hanging and
inflating with the wind on a building site in Manch-
ester. She watched them change shape and alter with
the wind, and recreated the movement using indus-
trial textile construction techniques, hand-dyed poly-
cotton and chiffon. Laura's exhibition, 'Anti Sculp-
tures', was on display at MCDC from 03/03/12 -
21/04/12. Laura exhibited her Anti-Sculptures along-
side programmed domestic fans and development
drawings which resulted from an artist residency in
Istanbul.
What are you doing now? I'm now living and work-
ing freelance in London. Since graduating from Em-
broidery BA (Hons) I went on to study Joinery at col-
lege for two years which saw the type of freelance
work I do become much more technician based. In
Jenny Bland
Eve Bennett, 'Spectacles'
Award 4 - 2009
3D design
Jenny's degree show 'SPUN' collection included a se-
ries of pendant lighting shades wound like bobbins
using the rotations of a record player to produce the
unique design. Her shades were hung in clusters of
varying shapes, colours and sizes. Jenny designed a
machine which ran thread through resin, removed
the excess, and then guided it onto the removable
wooden former that spins on a turntable; a produc-
tion process designed to be enjoyed just as much as a
live working spectator piece. During her final degree
show, she presented live demonstrations of the SPUN
process.
Jenny's exhibition 'SPUN' was on from 13/02/10 -
19/06/10. The exhibition showcased the SPUN collec-
tion alongside huge woven teardrop-shaped pen-
dants and a new range of bowls and interior acces-
sories. MCDC curators at the time described Jenny as
a "bright new talent with an unrivalled enthusiasm
for her work."
Laura Blake's Anti-Sculptures exhibition
Laura Blake
Clare Knox-Bethham's EVA drawings
Award 5 - 2010
3D Design
www.clareknoxbentham.co.uk
Clare is fascinated with the Mexican tradition of cele-
brating the dead. She creates large-scale plastic
drawings each celebrating a life, taking inspiration
from the El Da de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festi-
val. Clare hand draws her pieces using an industrial
process of heat-extruding liquid Ethylene-Vinyl Ac-
etate (EVA). The large glue gun-like extrusion tool
heats EVA plastic to a very high temperature and al-
lows it to flow through a nozzle, which she can then
control and draw with. Clare's exhibition, 'The Walk-
ing Dead', was on show at MCDC from 14/05/11 to
27/08/11. Clare created a new site-specific installa-
tion at MCDC of her "plastic doodle" drawings, with
each individual drawing linking together, completing
stories and developing tales.
What are you doing now? I'm still running my own
creative practice but I'm also the Outreach Manager
at Manchester School of Art and the Centre Manager
at Marketplace Studios in Stockport, which is a cre-
ative graduate enterprise hub (www.art.mmu.ac.uk/
marketplace).
Tell us a bit about your degree show: I made a se-
ries of large-scale hangings in bright colours. I REALLY
wanted to win the Crat Centre prize as the Centre
was somewhere I came a lot as a student to be in-
spired, look at how other practitioners were working,
and to think about professionalising my practice. I
was thrilled and a little embarrassed as my friend
Cathy (catherinecarrglass.co.uk) and I appeared to
win most of the crat-based awards - and as a pair of
'mature' (in age only!) students this meant a huge
deal to us.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? It was amazing
to see the work in a professional setting and I learned
a lot working with Dena, the Exhibition Manager at
the time. It was important for me as I started to get
press attention for the exhibition and realised the im-
portance of being associated with such an important
venue in Manchester.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? Yes! MCDC is
an important creative hub in the region and I'm there
quite a lot! I'm on the Steering Group of the NW Crat
Network along with MCDC Director Kate Day and I
was also involved with the delivery of the Crats
Council's Hothouse North scheme last year where we
delivered sessions at each other's venues - MCDC and
Marketplace Studios.
Any other memories? I also ran a 'Masterclass' as
part of the prize and remember Kate telling me to re-
member to talk about myself and my background
which I was a little shy about - she said that people
are interested in a maker's story; how they got to be
where they are and making the work that they do.
This was really good advice and I share this with the
makers I work with now.
practice. It was an emotional time yet I felt greatly
supported by the curators, designer-makers and cus-
tomers. I learnt a tremendous lot.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? Although I
don't visit as much as I would like, I made a lot of
friends and I do enjoy coming back for cake and con-
versation and it's nice to visit my commission piece
on display in the stairwell.
In speaking to Eve about this anniversary, she has re-
vealed a unique opportunity for you, our readers, to
contribute to her current body of work:
"I kept my mothers glasses on my bedside table
for many years as a constant reminder of my love
for her, an object so scratched and worn I would
look through them trying to capture the residue of
a past life. Every family has a spectacled character
with a story to tell. I am currently collecting stories
by illustrating the essence of these northern tales
using ceramics. If you have a story you would like
to contribute please email me:
SPUN by Jenny Bland
Clare Knox-Bentham
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6 MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Liz Winstanley
Award 7 - 2012
3D Design
www.josephhartley.co.uk
Joe's design process is oten a balancing act between
concept, material and process, which occurs at every
step of his creative practice and results in objects that
reveal rather than conceal their making and are both
innovative and honest. Joe's exhibition, 'Every Step:
The Design Process of Joseph Hartley, was on at
MCDC from 23/03/13 - 29/06/13. 'Every Step' show-
cased a range of existing and new work and included
objects from his "The Makery" collection of baking
accessories, alongside his handmade tools and
sketchbooks exploring his making process.
What are you doing now? I am the Project Manager
of The Pilcrow Pub Project, Manchester (www.thepil-
crowpub.com), and core and founding member of de-
sign collective Makers Dozen (www.makers-
dozen.com).
Tell us a bit about your degree show: For my degree
show I produced a collection of objects intended for
using to make bread at home. The collection was
made from wood, cloth and clay, three simple materi-
als intended to mirror the three simple ingredients
used to make sourdough bread: flour, water and salt.
All the items were made by me with my hands. I was
so chuffed to win, I remember having my photograph
taken next to Dena Bagi (see page 2), I was so proud
and I still have the photo now. She really showed en-
thusiasm toward my work from when I was in the first
year. It's amazing to be still working with Dena now
with the British Ceramics Biennial, I owe a lot of what
I get to do now to her.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? Massively so, I
can trace a lot of current professional relationships
back to that show and people still say "oh yeah, you
had that show at MCDC didn't you". They usually
can't believe it was three years ago! I've been in an-
other since then with Makers Dozen.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? Yes! And in-
tend to carry on. Makers Dozen have had a show
there, and I try to be involved with the Centre as
much as possible - last year I did a bit for Manifest
Arts Festival, I was very happy to be involved with
that and will look forward to the next one…
Liz Winstanley's degree show centrepiece
my own work I'm developing a new series of textiles
works that combine wood and fabric and a few pri-
vate commissions. Through various exhibitions and
jobs my personal practice has really started to be-
come focused on play-based learning for all ages. I'm
also a Project Designer for Pop-up Parks.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: My degree
show involved a series of inflatable textile forms
called 'Anti-Sculpture'. I'm still really proud of the
work, it has been the basis for the rest of my career to
date. I had no idea I was going to win the Award when
there was a ceremony going on in the 3D department.
I was so exhausted and sleep deprived ater install
and final hand in that I was going to go straight
home. My tutor Kate Egan was weirdly insistent that I
went over there to see it though, and when my name
was read out I realised why!
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? The Award from
MCDC was integral. It meant that I instantly had goals
to work for and professional support from the team.
It is that momentum ater graduation that is key to
carrying on. I still wonder now how I should do things
and how I go about them. Art school is amazing but it
is also a complete bubble that oten doesn't prepare
you for working as a professional. When there are
endless possibilities it is difficult to understand what
one should do; having that initial helping hand is
something I'm still so grateful for.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? I was fre-
quently popping in to MCDC when I was in Manch-
ester and whenever I'm back up North I try to head
over. It's such a wonderful community and space, I'm
oten going on your website to see what you guys are
up to.
Award 8 - 2013
Embroidery
www.elizabethjanewinstanley.com
Liz uses an experimental and innovative approach
combined with alternative media to push the bound-
aries of embroidery. Each of Liz's artworks feature il-
lusions of line and colour created through light emit-
ting wire and angular patterns, which are then screen
printed onto laser-cut acrylics. Liz's exhibition, 'Tac-
tile Illusions', was on show at MCDC from 15/03/14 -
05/07/14 and featured a number of experimental art-
works developed during her final year at University.
Liz also developed a new commission for the exhibi-
tion based on MCDC's architecture, worked with digi-
tal artist collective 0point3recurring on a projection
mapping installation, and created a stop-motion ani-
mation of the exhibition with photographer Tristan
Poyser.
What are you doing now? I am currently living in
London and studying Textiles Mixed MA at the Royal
College of Art, London. I am in my final year and I am
due to graduate this July. I also have a part time job
at Jamie's Italian to fund my living costs while study-
ing in London.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: I was thrilled
to win the prize, I totally didn't expect it at all. Ulti-
mately winning the prize gave me a confidence boost.
It was as if all my hard work was being acknowledged
and that what I had been doing for the past three
years was good, and people within the industry
thought that. I remember talking to the MCDC staff
about my work before the Award was announced, I
was very nervous but they all made me feel comfort-
able. Little did i know that this was the beginning of a
hugely positive relationship.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? I feel that the
MCDC staff nurtured me following my graduation.
Graduating is a hugely daunting task but I had the
staff's support and they taught me a lot when it came
to various aspects of exhibiting within a gallery. Not
only that but I gained more opportunities through
working with them, such as collaborations with Impe-
rial War Museum North and 0point 3recurrin for
Northern Quarter Ater Hours 2014.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? I will always
stay in touch with the MCDC staff, they are more than
colleagues - they are friends. I hope to re-exhibit
there in the future ater completing my Masters and I
will always be open to any opportunities to work with
them again. Whenever I come back to Manchester I
always pop in to see them and I always will in the fu-
ture. I have invited them down to my WIP show here
in London and I will be doing the same again for my
end show. I always know that I can email Kaylee at
any time with any question and she will always do
her best to help me and answer any questions.
Joe Hartley's 'The Makery'
Joe Hartley
-
7MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Award 10 - 2015
3D Design
www.verityhowardceramics.com
Verity's slab-built ceramic forms are inspired by her
fascination with people's lives and activities. Each
piece features a monoprinted or stamped glimpse
through a window. Verity's exhibition is called 'Be-
hind Closed Doors' and is on show at MCDC from
25/02/16 - 29/05/16. The exhibition features pieces
made for Verity's final project at University alongside
new work made during a 2015 residency at Guldager-
gaard: The International Ceramic Research Center in
Denmark.
What are you doing now? I currently have a studio
s p a c e a t A r t s i t e 3 S t u d i o s i n H e r e f o r d
(www.artsite3.com), a not-for-profit unit of studios
with 16 artists. I work there and also have a part time
job at an organic café in Hereford. Next month I am
hoping to start working one day a week in Hereford
Hospital running ceramics classes to further my expe-
rience in Arts for Health.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: My degree
show was made in response to photographs I had
taken which captured glimpses into people's lives.
The forms I made captured a sense of stillness, ab-
sence of presence and being the outsider looking in.
They also convey the volume and depth of darkness. I
felt very lucky and honoured to receive the Award
and very pleased that someone who didn't know me
or know my work had responded to it, understood it
and liked my work enough for it to be selected. Fur-
thermore I was thrilled at the prospect of a solo exhi-
bition to give me something to work towards and also
to have such a great platform and exposure for my
work.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? I felt very lucky
to have a solo show for such a long period of time
and with such good exposure in the city that I
studied. I used to look around MCDC as a student and
never imagined that I would be showing my work
there. The Award has helped me in my career ater
graduation as winning the bursary has enabled me to
buy materials and equipment. Furthermore it has
helped me set up my studio space immediately ater
graduating. It has also been nice to know that I could
get advice by approaching MCDC. I feel this mentor-
ing provides a valuable link between the tutor sup-
port of University and life ater graduation.
Thank you!
We'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone that
has contributed stories, memories and images to this
newspaper. Speaking to our predecessors Jack,
Kelda, and Dena has been inspiring and has demon-
strated how far MCDC has come over the past 10
years of graduate support. Our winners - Leanne,
Beth, Eve, Jenny, Clare, Laura, Joe, Liz, Rosie and Ver-
ity have been so generous sharing their stories; it's so
interesting to see how 10 people have launched their
careers from the same platform yet gone on to
achieve such different things. Thanks must also go to
our Resident Makers for the support they give our Fu-
ture Makers and the many University students who
visit throughout the year.
Lastly, thank you to our funders, without whom this
10th anniversary programme wouldn't have been
possible: The Radcliffe Trust, Manchester School of
Art, Arts Council England, and Manchester City Coun-
cil. Without their contribution we couldn't offer the
level of support that we are able to give to our win-
ning graduates, or the hundreds of other young and
emerging makers that we see here at MCDC every
day. - Kate Day (Director) & Kaylee Jenkinson (Ex-
hibitions & Events Officer), MCDC.
Verity Howard in her studio at Artsite 3
Award 9 - 2014
Textiles in Practice
www.rosemarybooth.com
Rosie's paper and aluminium 'drawings' feature com-
plex patterns made up of tiny perforated holes, all
produced by hand through a slow and meditative
process. The intricate patterns in her paper work are
made using pins, and with the aluminium pieces each
hole is hammered using a bradawl and a mallet to
create something more textural and sculptural.
Rosie's exhibition, 'Mesmerised', was on at MCDC
from 14/05/15 - 30/08/15 and featured three of
Rosie's intricate drawings, a new aluminium commis-
sion, and the pierced paper pieces which so im-
pressed MCDC at her final degree show.
What are you doing now? I am now living back in my
hometown, Wakefield. This year I've been working on
commissions, festivals and a solo exhibition as well
as developing my art practice. I'm also a part time
sales assistant at the arts and crat store Fred Aldous
in Leeds. My main focus recently has been making
more pieces, trying out new materials, and I've just
recently had a solo exhibition at the Prema Arts Cen-
tre in Dursley.
Tell us a bit about your degree show: For my degree
show I had two large scale pieces of work. One was a
large roll of paper which I'd spent about three weeks
punching small holes into using pins to create a very
intricate pattern. This was then hung in a window so
the imagery would be illuminated by the natural light
coming through. My second piece was also a paper
piece but placed on a light box on the ground instead.
I'd preferred the light box piece because the light
coming through was much brighter and showed more
clearly the magnitude of holes punched through and
the level of detail. It was amazing to see the response
to my work and seeing people appreciate the effort
that had gone into it. This was a first for me because
nobody had seen my work outside the university stu-
dios so to get such a nice response was so pleasantly
surprising and quite an overwhelming experience.
How was winning the Award important to you and
your career following graduation? It was important
to me because however good the experience of art
school is, you still have to create your own path ater
your degree where there is no certainty of stability
and you're away from the comforts that you get from
University. To have a solo exhibition straight ater
graduating was an amazing opportunity, giving me a
real sense of belonging and it opened many doors.
The amount of support I got really helped me for fu-
ture exhibitions too.
Have you stayed in touch with MCDC? I stay in
touch even though I moved back to Wakefield. I still
get advice and support from Kaylee too which I really
appreciate. Since the exhibition, my artwork has
been displayed in the Sevendale House building for
Echo PR which MCDC helped with. I have also attend-
ed one of their creative business workshops. And of
course I look forward to seeing the 10th Graduate
winner's work in their solo exhibition!
The aluminium centrepiece of 'Mesmerised by Rosie
Booth'
Verity Howard
Rosie Booth
One of Verity Howard's degree show ceramics
-
8 MCDC's 10th Annual MMU Graduate Solo Exhibition Award
Elsa Frere, Future Maker in &made (studio 21)
Behind Closed Doors: The launch
25 Feb 2016, 6-8pm (Free)
Join us for the launch of our exhibition 'Behind
Closed Doors' which will be opened by Professor
David Crow, Dean of the Faculty of Art & Design at
Manchester School of Art and will feature music from
our Resident DJ Ailsa McLaggan of Living Room
Dance Club and drinks from The Duppy Share.
Drop-in ceramics workshop
2 April 2016, 10am-4pm (Free)
Join us throughout the day to make your own little
clay masterpiece... Be inspired by 'Behind Closed
Doors' and join Verity Howard in this free drop-in
workshop. Verity will teach you how to monoprint
your sketches onto porcelain, a technique which she
uses to make her own work.
Maker Meet Up
17 March 2016, 6-8pm (£5)
Join us for an evening of networking, one-to-one ad-
vice, and idea-sharing for students, graduates and
emerging makers. With support from the North West
Crat Network, we'll have experts and professionals
on hand to help answer your questions about mar-
keting, working with galleries, making the most of op-
portunities, and different career options for makers.
Come along and meet other like-minded people - you
never know where your conversations will lead.
Creative Business Development workshop:
Moving On…
13 April 2016, 2-5pm (£15)
Leaving University can be scary - but we're here to
help. Creative Consultant Jenny Rutter will help you
make the shit from student to professional mindset,
looking at perfecting that 'elevator pitch', creating
your artist CV and profile, and how to present your-
self and your work in a professional context.
Talk: Exhibition tour with Verity Howard
27 April 2016, 1:30pm (Free)
Verity will lead our monthly 'Crat Unravelled' exhibi-
tion tour, sharing stories and the inspirations behind
her work.
If you're visiting MCDC as a group, why not include
one of our bespoke talks and tours? We've developed
a new programme of talks as part of our 10th anniver-
sary celebrations, so give us a call ahead of your visit
to see how we can make it unique.
Manchester Ater Hours: Behind Closed Doors
12th May 2016, 6-8pm with performances: 6:30pm
and 7:30pm (Free)
We've joined forces with Brighter Sound to commis-
sion musician Avital Raz to compose a piece of music
in response to 'Behind Closed Doors'. The sound
piece will capture the intrigue of Verity's work and
connect with Avital's unnerving musical style to cre-
ate an original and thought-provoking Ater Hours
performance. The commission celebrates both MCDC
and Brighter Sound's respective talent development
programmes, focusing on celebrating and profiling
the work of exciting up-and-coming artists.
Collaborative artwork commission
We've commissioned Verity to work with our Resident
Maker Ella McIntosh (THIS IS PEWTER) to make a
unique artwork celebrating 10 years of our Graduate
Award. Pewter is a widely recognised as the tradition-
al git for 10th wedding anniversaries, so we set Ella
and Verity the challenge to collaborate in a brand
new way for both of their creative practices. Keep an
eye on our website and social media for insights into
their design processes and details of the final
artwork.
Verity Howard short film
We visited Verity in her studio at Artsite 3 in Hereford
to learn more about what inspires her and how she
works. You can see this film in the 'Behind Closed
D o o r s ' e x h i b i t i o n o r o n o u r w e b s i t e :
cratanddesign.com/mmu10.
Future Makers
Each year our Resident Makers visit degree shows
across the country, choosing their future crat and de-
sign stars. Our makers generously share their studios
and expertise with new graduates, showcasing and
selling their work to over 35,000 MCDC customers and
visitors. Our 2016 Future Makers have graduated from
seven different University degrees, including 3D De-
sign, Textiles in Practice, and Illustration with Anima-
tion from Manchester School of Art - as well as Con-
temporary Design Crats at Hereford College of Arts
and Metalwork and Jewellery Design at Dublin's Na-
tional College of Art and Design. They are:
Jeweller Mark Newman (Studio 1), mixed media artist
Lydia O'Sullivan (Studio 4), illustrator and textile
printmaker Lydia Mary (Studio 9 and 'the wire'), glass
artist Kira Meyer (Studio 10-11), jeweller Charlotte
Tracy (Studio 12-13), jewellers Melissa Yarlett and
Mollie Paling (Studio 16-17), ceramicist Josie Sey-
mour-Jones (Studio 20a), illustrator Elsa Frere (Stu-
dio 21), jeweller Laura Scott (Studio 22), and furniture
maker Ella-Mae Sibley Sparling (Studio 23).
Graduate season on our blog
We're taking the celebration of new talent online -
visit our blog at manchestercrat.wordpress.com to
see stories and images from our previous 10 winners,
2016 Future Makers, our 'Behind Closed Doors' exhi-
bition, and more about all of our special anniversary
events and commissions.
About Manchester Crat & Design Centre
Manchester Crat & Design Centre is an unforgettable
place to make, see and buy contemporary crat and
design. Alongside our independent artist studios, we
host ambitious and innovative temporary exhibitions
which showcase the very best of crat and design tal-
ent. We are open seven days a week and offer over
100,000 visitors a year the unique opportunity to buy
directly from our 30 resident makers.
@ManchesterCrat / #BehindClosedDoorsMcr
Events and Commissions