Art School Commisions
Holden Gallery
Manchester School of Art
June 2025
This exhibition brings together over 60 commissioned students across art and design.
Developed through a commissioning process that mirrors professional practice — open call, pitching, budgeting, and production — the works reflect conceptual ambition, and the ability to navigate the complexities of creating contemporary creative work. This real-world experience equips students with vital professional skills, enhances their employability, and prepares them for diverse careers in the creative industries.
From sculptural interventions and expanded print to immersive environments, painting and speculative design, the exhibition showcases how emerging artists and designers engage with some of the most pressing issues of our time, such as environmental sustainability, social justice, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence. These are explored with curiosity, critique, and care, with many works embracing play as a method of inquiry, inviting audiences to interact, reflect, and imagine alternative futures.
Art School Commissions is a rehearsal for futures in which artists and designers lead with vision, resilience, and responsibility — while gaining invaluable experience that supports their professional development and future employability.
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