Midas Award 2009: Shortlist for Cornwall’s contemporary art award announced

Three BA(Hons) Fine Art graduates and one BA(Hons) Photography graduate from University College Falmouth (UCF) have been shortlisted for this year's Midas Award, the winner of which will be announced at the Millennium Gallery in St Ives on Friday 30 October 2009.

Initially established four years ago by Artonomy Fine Art and property services company, Midas in conjunction with UCF as a means of helping the most talented of Cornwall's emerging artists to launch their professional careers and reach new audiences, the coveted prize offers one UCF graduate a funded studio space at Krowji, the cluster of creative studios, workspaces and offices based at the former Grammar School in Redruth, and professional development support from UCF's Business Fellow in Visual Arts, Sara Bowler and Creative Skills.

The work of the four semi-finalists - Naomi Hannam, Sarah Howard, David Pringle and Phoebe Baldry - were selected by an expert panel of judges during UCF's annual graduate show in June and will be on show to the public at the Millennium Gallery from 30 October to 15 November.

The judges were renowned Cornish artist, Trevor Bell; Head of National Programmes at the Contemporary Art Society in London, Lucy Bailey; UCF's Director of Art & Performance, Sara Reed; and Business Development Manager, Martin Walton and Project Director, Keith Hosen from Midas.

New work by last year's winner, George Morgan, created during his 12-month tenure at Krowji, will also be featured as part of the exhibition.

Ends

Press enquiries to: Jilly Easterby MCIPR, Head of Public Affairs at University College Falmouth on 01326 213792

Notes for editors

The four semi-finalists are:

Naomi Hannam - BA(Hons) Fine Art

Sarah Howard - BA(Hons) Fine Art

David Pringle - BA(Hons) Fine Art

Phoebe Baldry - BA(Hons) Photography

About University College Falmouth

University College Falmouth is internationally respected for the quality of its undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Art, Design and Media, and has a long and distinguished history of fine art practice.

In April 2008, University College Falmouth merged with Dartington College of Arts to create a new institution focusing on the expansion of Falmouth's expertise in Art, Design and Media and Dartington's expertise in Choreography, Music, Theatre, Art and Writing.

The merger paves the way for the creation of Arts University Cornwall in 2012/2013, creating a specialist Higher Education institution unique to the South West.

The College currently has c. 3,000 students and three campuses: Woodlane in Falmouth; Tremough in Penryn, which it jointly manages with the University of Exeter in a collaboration that is unique in the UK - and Dartington in Totnes. Dartington Campus staff and students will relocate to brand new, purpose-built facilities at Tremough in 2010.

University College Falmouth is a founding partner in the Combined Universities in Cornwall (CUC), a unique initiative to promote regional economic regeneration through Higher Education. The CUC is funded mainly by the European Union (Objective One), the South West Regional Development Agency, and the Higher Education Funding Council for England, with support from Cornwall Council.

http://www.falmouth.ac.uk/

About Midas

Midas is one of the UK's fastest-growing, independent providers of property solutions, and has 30 years' experience offering a complete range of construction and property-related services for all industry sectors.

The Midas Group is made up of specialist trading companies and dedicated consumer teams that deliver a highly personalised service. Midas works closely with clients and partners to develop open, long-term relationships and deliver high-quality, value-for-money projects on time, ensuring that customers have a positive experience and their expectations are exceeded.

http://www.midasgroup.co.uk/

About Millennium Gallery, St Ives

For more information, please contact: Joseph Clarke, Director
Millennium Gallery, Street-an-Pol, St Ives, Cornwall TR26 2DS
Telephone: 01736 793121
Email: mail@millenniumgallery.co.uk

About Krowji

Krowji is the cluster of creative studios, workspaces and offices based at the former Grammar School in Redruth. The site was acquired in 2005 and there are now more than 80 people, including painters, furniture makers, jewellers, web designers, picture framers, theatre companies and ceramicists as well as office staff from a number of sector support agencies such as Creative Skills and Cornwall Council's Creative Unit. There are meeting rooms, a licensed café, exhibition areas and a rehearsal space.

The scheme is being developed in partnership with the local authorities, CPR Regeneration and the SW Regional Development Agency. They have very close links with University College Falmouth and are delighted to be a joint sponsor of the scheme for another year.

The name Krowji comes from the Cornish language word for shed or small workspace.

For more information please contact: Ross Williams, Director
Krowji Ltd, The Old Grammar School, West Park, Redruth TR15 3AJ
Telephone: 01209 313200/07779 467640
Email: ross@actcornwall.org.uk

About Creative Skills

Creative Skills is the professional development agency for practitioners working in the creative industries in Cornwall. Their aim is to equip creative practitioners in Cornwall with the skills, knowledge and opportunities they need to develop and share their creativity, and increase their prosperity. Creative skills is funded by the Learning and Skills Council and Objective One, and supports professional development through structured support and training for those who work in the creative industries in Cornwall.

http://www.creativeskills.org.uk/

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