5 May 2011

New Dean looks forward to Degree Show with confidence

The newly appointed Dean of Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has expressed his desire to make this year's Dundee Degree Show the best yet.

Professor Tom Inns officially took up the post last month, having filled the role on an interim basis since November. One of his first official tasks as head of DJCAD, part of the University of Dundee and one of the UK's top art colleges, will be to oversee the Degree Show.

Almost 300 students from all 11 undergraduate programmes will exhibit the fruits of their labours from 21st-29th May. The show takes place throughout the two buildings and fourteen floors that comprise DJCAD, with every spare space exhibiting art and design.

The show attracts thousands of visitors to each year and is seen as a springboard for some of Scotland's most exciting emerging artists. Professor Inns said he was thrilled about his first Degree Show as Dean, and confident that this year's graduands would once more do themselves and DJCAD proud.

'Visitors to this year's Degree Show will be viewing work from some of the UK's top art and design graduates, who amassed dozens of national and international prizes during their time at DJCAD,' he said.

'Every one of them is a key part of our ever growing network of art and design expertise, and the annual Degree Show at DJCAD showcases the remarkable talent and creativity of students from a wide range of disciplines.

'I am immensely proud to be Dean of the creative hub at the heart of the University of Dundee and I know that visitors this year will be hugely impressed by students who continue to challenge convention and create wonderful work.'

An all-ticket Preview Evening for students, their families and invited guests will take place on Friday, May 20th before the exhibition opens to the public from Saturday, May 21st until Sunday, May 29th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday - Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday - Sunday).

The annual Degree Show is one of the city's largest annual cultural events, attracting in excess of 10,000 visitors, and generating an estimated £1.5million for the local economy each year.

DJCAD has been rated as the top art school in Scotland and in the top four in the UK according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). It is also at the forefront of the 'V&A at Dundee' project that will create a statement building on Dundee's newly developing waterfront.

This will house contemporary collections from the world-famous Victoria & Albert Museum alongside other major exhibitions, as well as showcasing design practice and research.

Notes to editors:

Dundee Degree Show
21st - 29th May 2011 (Preview May 20th)

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design
University of Dundee
13 Perth Road
Dundee DD1 4HT
T 01382 385330
E exhibitions@dundee.ac.uk
www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow

Exhibition open:
Saturday, May 21st (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 22nd (10am-4pm)
Monday, May 23rd (10am-8pm)
Tuesday, May 24th (10am-8pm)
Wednesday, May 25th (10am-8pm)
Thursday, May 26th (10am-8pm)
Friday, May 27th (10am-8pm)
Saturday, May 28th (10am-4pm)
Sunday, May 29th (10am-4pm)

Graduate work on display:
Animation
Art, Philosophy, Contemporary Practices
Digital Interaction Design
Fine Art
Graphic Design
Illustration
Interior Environmental Design
Jewellery & Metal Design
Product Design
Textile Design
Time Based Art & Digital Film

For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277