News
Thursday 2 October 2008
Graduates steal the show at creative awards
An incredible six out of ten prizes in last night’s Nottingham Creative Business Awards were presented to Nottingham Trent University graduates. As well as the overall Nottingham Creative Business of the Year, graduates walked away with first prize in the visual arts, fashion and textiles, product design, writing and publishing and crafts categories. The result builds on last year's success, when university graduates scooped five awards overall.
Nottingham is a thriving hotbed of art and design talent, and the awards – organised by creative practitioners and professionals, with the support of Nottingham City Council – aim to recognise and celebrate the very best creative work taking place in and around the city. More than 150 businesses put their names forward for the awards before last night’s ceremony at the city’s Council House.
Visual artist and Nottingham Trent University Fine Art graduate, Hetain Patel, was awarded the coveted Nottingham Creative Business of the Year Award, as well as first prize in the Visual Arts category. In an attempt to understand his Indian heritage, Hetain decorates his body with intricate patterns using materials such as henna and kanku paste, traditionally used in Hindu prayer and wedding ceremonies. He also incorporates Indian rhythm into video and live works.
Fashion Design graduate Susi Henson, who runs lingerie and bridalwear business Eternal Spirits, won the Fashion and Textiles award. Susi also studied an MA in Fashion and Textiles at the university and lectures in fashion at the university’s School of Art and Design. Decorative Arts graduate Laura McCafferty, who creates contemporary textile artworks using traditional techniques, won the Craft category, while Lime Studio, a furniture design consultancy established by three product design graduates, took the Product Design award.
Prize-winning author, Nicola Monaghan, who studied an MA in Writing at the university, was judged best for Writing and Publishing.
Nottingham Trent University has an internationally recognised reputation for the high quality of its art and design education provision, and for its creativity, innovation and design excellence. Located within the heart of Nottingham, the university’s School of Art and Design makes a major contribution to the cultural life of the city and to art and design all over the world.
The Dean of the School of Art and Design, Ann Priest, said: “These awards are tremendous accolades for all of the prize-winners. We are very proud of our graduates and the fact that so many of them stay on in Nottingham building such successful and spectacular businesses.”
Simon Green, The Director of Sustainable Development at Nottingham City Council, said: "Nottingham has long been the cultural capital of the East Midlands and these awards are a great tribute to all the talented creative practitioners our city has.
“The diversity of creative businesses in the city has continued to grow which has significantly helped to raise Nottingham’s profile as a key cultural city, nationally and internationally. As a council we are committed to promote and develop the creative industries as a key sector of the city's economy and this is why we are a candidate city for the World Design Capital in 2012."
ENDS
Press enquiries please contact: Dave Rogers, Senior Press Officer, on Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 8782, or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 8774, or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
