FINAL year students from Teesside University are set to benefit from an exciting new partnership which will give them access to an international media arts organisation that will work with them to create an innovative digital exhibition.

The partnership will also provide a timely employability boost as it will give graduating students the opportunity to work with creative professionals and provide a direct link to the industry.

The University’s MIMA School of Art & Design is teaming up with renowned arts charity York Mediale to help stage this year’s Degree Show, titled The Upside Down.

A highlight of the academic year, the annual Degree Show is a celebration of outstanding achievement and gives students from undergraduate courses including Product Design, Fashion, Interiors, Graphics and Illustration and Fine Art a chance to display their work in a prestigious exhibition of creativity.

Due to coronavirus restrictions preventing the usual physical gatherings, MIMA School of Art & Design is working alongside York Mediale to help students stage a digital exhibition supported by a series of guest speakers and events.

An independent arts charity, York Mediale delivers new commissions, live events and artistic developments, showcasing the very best of emerging and established media art.

The agency is renowned for incorporating the use of technology into its work to provoke, challenge and create new ways of thinking.

York Mediale also created the UK’s biggest digital arts biennale in 2018 and has commissioned new work from Marshmallow Laser Feast, worked with the makers of Bandersnatch and helped fill venues for unique performers such as Moses Boyd and Kamel Williams.

Final year students from Teesside University’s creative courses will have direct access to the team at York Mediale who will work with them to creative a stunning and thought-provoking digital exhibition which will showcase their work to the widest possible audience.

A bespoke website is being created and, as part of their course, students have been asked to use their creativity and imagination to think about how they could showcase their work digitally.

As creative producers, York Mediale will collaborate with students on showcasing their work.

As part of the Degree Show, which will be launched in early July, Teesside University and York Mediale are working with their professional networks and the show is supported by a number of events and guest speakers.

MIMA School of Art & Design is committed to providing an exceptional student experience, working with local, national and international networks to develop skills, knowledge and resilience and provide the foundations for a creative career.

This new partnership builds on an existing relationship as Tom Higham, Creative Director at York Mediale worked with MIMA’S Sarah Perks, Professor at MIMA School of Art & Design, on the Future Everything project in Manchester.

Laura Sillars, MIMA Director and Dean of MIMA School of Art & Design, said: “Our students have had the most challenging time in which to produce their final work and I am immensely proud of the resilience and commitment they have shown. Our students are from across the UK and overseas and to produce a physical show is not possible currently – our aim is to support them with a high-profile digital platform to showcase their work.

“We are excited to be working with the team at York Mediale who will be able to use their insight, expertise and enthusiasm to inspire our students."

“It will also provide our students with direct access to professional artists and designers within the sector and they will gain first-hand experience of working with industry as they graduate.

“I’m very excited to launch our inaugural online Degree Show and am looking forward to seeing what I am sure will be a stunning exhibition of exceptional work.”

Tom Higham, Creative Director of York Mediale, added: “It’s fantastic to be working with students from courses across MIMA’s School of Art & Design on their Degree Show as they are the next generation of creatives to challenge boundaries, creating new and innovative work. We see this as being mutually beneficial, we get to see the ideas and messages coming through from these emerging artists while we share our knowledge and experience with them, helping all the students make the most of the challenge presented by having their final exhibitions go online.”