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ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ showcases work from emerging artists at annual MA Degree Show

Friday, 21 August, 2026

ºÚÁÏÕýÄÜÁ¿ is inviting the public into its renowned art and design space, Locksbrook Campus, to explore the work of its emerging artists and designers at this year’s MA Degree Show.  

Exhibiting the work of BSU's graduating MA Art and Design students, this highly anticipated event highlights and celebrates students' achievements and gives them the opportunity to showcase their final projects to the public.  

Open from 5-9 September, the show will feature the best work from students specialising in Ceramics, Curatorial Practice, Media, Painting, Photography, Graphics, Illustration, Textiles and Visual Communication. For some, it's a chance to exhibit their work publicly for the very first time, while for others the show offers exciting career progression opportunities. 

Andrew Southall, Subject and Course Leader for MA Design at BSU said: 

"MA students studying at our Locksbrook campus learn from skilled technicians and technical demonstrators in our excellent workshops, alongside specialist academic tutors, as they explore and master their chosen practices.  

"The Degree Show provides an opportunity for them to present the work they have developed throughout the MA programme to a public audience for the first time. Among the diverse approaches and media on display this year are an environmentally engaged textile project, a socially engaged visual communication publication, and a collection of whimsical illustrations presented through a Manga-inspired narrative." 

Dr Natasha Kidd, Director of Creative Engagement at BSU, added: 

"As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of our iconic Locksbook building, I am reminded it was designed around an ambition: to create an environment that encourages an open community. With that in mind, we want our shows to be part of a process of keeping that promise alive, opening our doors, showcasing the extraordinary work of our students and staff, and celebrating our community with the community beyond our walls." 

Bringing the Show's identity to life 

Each year, students on BSU’s Art and Design courses take an active role in the show’s marketing, shaping its visual identity by designing the official poster. This year’s posters were created by recent Graphic Design graduates, Cara Matraves and Adele Traverse.  

Seeking to capture the creative processes that define life at Locksbrook campus, Cara and Adele used words that describe how students approach their practice, integrating promotional messaging and advertising assets into the design. To bring the identity to life, bold typography was paired with vibrant colour palettes. 

Reflecting on her involvement in the show’s branding, Cara said:  

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to represent the University through the Degree Show branding. It’s been really exciting to push the show's identity in a typographic direction, and collaborating with a fellow classmate throughout has been so much fun.”   

Adele said:  

“I have thoroughly enjoyed working on the branding for this year’s Degree Show with Cara, and I’m grateful to contribute to representing the University. I’m excited for the atmosphere of the Degree Show and to celebrate the scope of amazing work created by the students at Locksbrook.” 

The MA Degree Show kicks off with a Private View on Friday 4 September, and opens to the public from 5-9 September, 10am-6pm (12pm-6pm Monday). 

Find out more about the Show on the Degree Show webpage.  You can also explore your own artistic expression with our Introduction to Cyanotype Printing short course on Wednesday 9 September, then enjoy the Degree Show on your lunch break.