Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Partnership to bridge the gap between study and practice for the next generation of young artists
To mark the partnership The Tetley’s central atrium exhibition space was re-named the Leeds Beckett Gallery at a formal celebration in the Gallery on 16 December 2015. Extending The Tetley’s commitment to supporting early career artists, the centre for contemporary art and learning will work with Leeds Beckett University to develop collaborative projects and opportunities for arts students keen to develop future careers in the creative industries. Councillor Judith Blake, Leader of Leeds City Council, was in attendance to officially mark the opening of the gallery.
Guests were treated to two performances from Leeds Becket students and staff. Singer Ronnie Maurice entertained guests, accompanied by his guitarist Jono Hewlett-Davies - both are students on our BA (Hons) Music Production and Performance course. Staff members and alumni BA (Hons) Performance alumni Hannah Butterfield and Daniel Craddock performed a recital entitled A Welcome.
Students and staff at Leeds Beckett University have been working together with the Programme and marketing teams at The Tetley - housed in the former Tetley Brewery Headquarters - on a number of projects including a brewing symposium and students from the schools for architecture and theatre have already been bridging the gap between study and practice. Now, with a formal partnership in place, The Tetley will offer opportunities to Leeds Beckett University’s undergraduates, from a range of disciplines including film, design and fine art to boost their experience and future employment prospects.
The first of these opportunities, to develop a year-long design residency at The Tetley, is already underway. In its inaugural year, the post has been won by BA (Hons) Graphic Arts and Design student Ellie Polston who, as resident Designer at The Tetley, now works alongside the in-house marketing team to design and create marketing materials for The Tetley across exhibitions, events and Bar & Kitchen. Ellie’s experience at The Tetley has led to her growing a network across the creative industry in Leeds and establishing her independent practice, working on a number of creative projects across Yorkshire. This has included new brand development briefs for a new independent ice cream company; a rebrand project for an advertising agency and involvement in designing promotional materials for regional community partners. The residency has allowed Ellie to develop her professional portfolio in a real-life setting: an important first step from graduate to professional practitioner.
Professor Mohammad Dastbaz, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Environment & Technology at Leeds Beckett University, said: “We are delighted to be launching our partnership with The Tetley and in particular the Leeds Beckett Gallery. The partnership is a great fit given our expertise in creative arts education and will undoubtedly bring fantastic benefits for our students; they will have access to some unique opportunities for work placements and internships in addition to exposure to larger audiences and of course many opportunities for joint projects. I’m very excited about the future opportunities our organisations can create.”
Jean Dent, Deputy Chair of The Tetley added: “The Tetley is at the heart of a creative renaissance along Leeds’s ‘South Bank’ leading the way for the city to broaden the scope of its artistic and education programmes and ensuring a strong and sustainable future for emerging artists. Culture and creativity are the vital lifeblood of a city, often cited as a reason to visit, work or study there. This partnership is great news for The Tetley and our audiences who will have the chance to witness the city’s new generation of talent in the making. This is a fantastic time for artists and the culturally curious in Leeds as the city gear up to bidding for Capital of Culture in 2023 and The Tetley is keen to play its part.”
Currently on show in the Leeds Beckett Gallery and throughout The Tetley is critically acclaimed ‘The Feast Wagon’, a group exhibition featuring new commissions and installations by Simeon Barclay, Delaine Le Bas, Lubaina Himid and Susan Walsh. The exhibiting artists and co-curators will be in conversation on Thursday 7 January to discuss themes from the show. Tickets much be purchased in advance from http://thetetley.org.