Graduate artist residency launched with Tyneside Cinema

Northumbria University, Newcastle and Tyneside Cinema are delighted to announce a new artist residency for recent graduates working with the moving image from disciplines including fine art, animation, design and film.

This opportunity marks the start of an exciting partnership between the two organisations, which aims to promote and develop arts and culture in the North East, and support the professional development of emerging artists working with moving image across the region.

Holli Keeble, Cinema Projects Manager at Tyneside Cinema, and Jamie Steane, Principal Lecturer at Northumbria University’s Department of Media & Communication Design launched the new residency at the University’s Media Gala screening at Tyneside Cinema yesterday (Tuesday 10 June).

Holli Keeble, Cinema Projects Manager at Tyneside Cinema said “We are delighted to launch this exciting new opportunity for emerging artists, which marks the next step in Tyneside Cinema’s flourishing relationship with Northumbria University.

“We’ve been really impressed with the University’s energy and commitment to supporting artists in the region, and we’re looking forward to working together in the future to create more opportunities that develop and showcase the talents of both undergraduates and graduates taking their first important steps after university.”

Northumbria University’s Media Gala screening is an annual event that celebrates and showcases the work of its graduating BA (Hons) media production students on the big screen, which this year included a range of impressive animation, drama and documentary student work.

A number of student prizes were awarded on the night, including Best Film, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography. British screenwriter Gary Young, well known for writing the Michael Caine classic Harry Brown, was in attendance to award the best screenwriter prize on the night.

Lucy Winskell, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Business and Engagement at Northumbria University, said: “The unique partnership between the University and Tyneside Cinema will only go further towards enhancing the city’s cultural offering. The relationship is set to provide an incredible stepping stone into the industry for some of the region’s talented young artists and will open a number of doors at a crucial point in their career.”

Jamie Steane, Head of Visual Communication and Interactive Media Design at Northumbria University, said: “This initiative provides a wonderful bridge between academic study and creative practice, helping the successful graduate take an important first step in establishing them as a successful new artist or practitioner.

“Working closely with the team at Tyneside, we are really excited by this exclusive opportunity for our students and hope it is the first of many new collaborations to come out of this partnership.

"Holli Keeble and the whole team at Tyneside have been brilliant to work with. Their enthusiasm and energy to make this initiative happen, have rubbed off on all of us from the Departments of Arts and Media & Communication Design and we feel excited about the potential of this initiative and what it means for our students”.

The new eight-week residency at Tyneside Cinema is designed to support the development and practice of an emerging artist working with screen-based media, and provide them with mentorship, space and technical support to develop new work.

To find out more about the Graduate Residency please visit www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/graduateresidency.