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Opening Nights across UCA’s Canterbury, Epsom and Farnham campuses welcomed students and their friends and families, industry associates and local cultural and arts figures to view the work on show and to share in the celebrations.
With over 50 industry awards presented to outstanding students on the night, the occasion was one of joy and gratitude.
Dr Lynne Bartlett, Director of the Association of Contemporary Jewellery (ACJ), awarded craft student Celine Munisso Student of the Year, winning a free membership to ACJ.
“We promote contemporary jewellery and like to encourage makers at the beginning of their career,” explained Dr Bartlett.
And some of the crafts on show are available to buy for the first time in a new initiative on UCA’s marketplace – #MadeByUCA.
In Illustration, Marc Ellerby a freelance illustrator and UCA alum, handed out two awards on the night, Luca le Jeune won Innovation in Illustration and Nina Millicheap won Narrative in Illustration.
Speaking about Luca’s win, Marc said: “Luca found a way to combine animation with videography and link it to his passion for old film techniques. The presentation of his work was something I hadn’t seen before from a student and it was seeing his development, the merging of two passions that was exceptional.”
Elsewhere in Canterbury, with the support of UCA's Professor Hedley Roberts and Dr Michael Lent, The Arts Society Mid Kent (TASMK) awarded Ellis Smith a prize of £1,000 for Emerging Talent.
“We were delighted to give this award to Ellis who has studied in Kent and will make their emerging talent their focus for the future,” members of the Arts Society Mid Kent said.
TASMK is further supporting UCA’s Fine Arts and Design students through its Elizabeth Hammond scholarships, which will provide three scholarships totalling £5,000 per year with the possibility to continue for several years.
Michael Lent said: “We’re incredibly grateful to The Arts Society Mid Kent for their generous support of our students as they take the next steps in their artistic journeys.”
While Patrick Lynch of Lynch Architects took to Instagram to praise our architectural grads, he wrote: “Astonishingly skilful, inquisitive, and witty architectural design on display.”
He continued: “Beautiful haptic, tactile and heuristic pedagogy – a surprise and delight to see. If any graduates write to you asking for work, jump at them, from what I’ve seen this is the best School of Architecture outside of London by a very long way.”
In Epsom, guests were treated to a catwalk show by graduates from the School of Fashion and Textiles followed by the B-School Awards hosted by the Business School for the Creative Industries.
Awards were given to graduates studying across UCA’s range of creative business courses, sponsored by industry experts that included Carly Kouvaris from WGSM, Naomi Reilly co-founder of SevenSeventeen, Alex DoubleDay founder of Product Park and Amber McKenzie at Creative Artists Agency.
The awards included:
- Creative Vision in Brand Storytelling Award
- NextGen Digital Disruptor Award
- Creative Vision in Fashion Business Award
- Music Business Futures Award
- NextGen Creative Director Award
- Most Innovative Editorial or Magazine Concept Award
- Most Innovative Concept Award
- NextGen Fashion Business Award
- Next Gen Entrepreneur Award
Back in Farnham, the Mayor, Councillor George Murray, who came to opening night, commented: “I saw such spirit in the art on display, and the craft is absolutely amazing. UCA brings a lot of colour, energy, and life to the town and a different sensibility, I think it’s brilliant that UCA is here in Farnham.”
The industry awards continued as Joey Love from Absolutely Games handed Kitty Van Bokhoven the award for Games Animation Class Champion 2025.
Joey said: “We recognise that the best talent out there has to be fostered and encouraged, and University is one of the best places for that to happen with courses like the one at UCA. We love to promote that creativity and encourage people accessing the industry, topping up the number of wonderful people out there.
He went on to say: “Keep making. If you can express your creativity through the things that you are making and show that to people, that’s the best way to get attention from industry.”
In Comic and Concept Art, UCA celebrated its first cohort of students. One of those students was Ezzie Mate-Safar, who was awarded Exceptional Contribution from a Graduating Student, which was sponsored by Supermassive Games.
On accepting the award, Ezzie said: “As course rep, I’ve been invested in how the course has been running and wanted everyone to get the most out of their undergraduate degree. So, this award means I was able to contribute towards that, and it’s made me very happy.”
Across the three campuses, UCA welcomed guests from local cultural networks, arts organisations, and galleries, including New Ashgate Gallery in Farnham, Surrey Arts, Once Upon a Town Epsom and Ewell, the Horton Arts Centre in Epsom, East Kent Artists Open Houses 2025, and Canterbury Festival.
Anyone can visit the Grad Show 2025, which is open till 25 June or you can view the online showcase. For more information visit uca.ac.uk/gradshow/