Here at the University of Salford we meet many students who love us SO MUCH that they end up working here after they’ve graduated. This series is dedicated to those in-particular, their experience, their do’s and don’ts and their practice. First up, Georgiana!
The most valuable experience I gained as a student is to believe in your skills and strengths. I was supported and encouraged every step of the way, which in turn made me believe in myself, interact efficiently and confidently and understand how to be a good team player.
What facilities do Salford have that helped you excel in your learning?
For me, the most important resources were the technical team, tutors and the varied filming equipment we had access to. The technical team offered me the practical knowledge and encouragement I needed, the tutors shared their experiences and guidance which put opportunities in perspective, and the access to top of the range equipment allowed me to develop my knowledge and my portfolio.
Are you still in contact with friends from uni?
I met my best friend on the course, and while I haven’t really seen or spoken to many other friends from uni, I know that whenever our paths will cross it will be great to see each other and remember our uni days.
What did you learn about yourself?
I learnt so much about myself, but most of all I learnt that having the confidence that you are capable is what really makes you able to do what you set out to do. We all doubt ourselves and we all have immense potential – believe in yourself, work hard, and you will surprise yourself.
Did you feel like there was enough support at Salford?
I was always supported in whatever I needed, and in a way I was offered support when I wasn’t even aware I needed it. Amongst everyone’s busy schedules, everyone at Salford was there for all of us to help us, guide us, and give us a good word that made everything better when we felt down.
What did you think of the campus in general?
The campus was great and I always felt welcome, even in first year when I was not only new to the university, but new to the country. I always found something to do, someone to talk to, and felt very safe.
What do you miss most about being a student?
I miss not having so many responsibilities, but above all I miss having the resources and opportunity to make films with my friends and have so much fun while developing as a film maker. I won’t ever be faced with that freedom again, and I’ll always cherish the memory.
Were you involved in any societies at Salford? If so, what were they?
I was a part of the film makers society and the badminton society. I personally wasn’t very involved, but the students who ran those societies were so dedicated to everyone having a good time!
How would you describe the community atmosphere?
I was working a lot at the time, so I feel like I missed out on some opportunities to get to know more people and get involved in more varied activities. I am looking back on that time with some nostalgia, because it was so incredibly easy to make friends and have something in common with anyone you bumped into. Everyone has always been incredibly friendly, and it was so easy to know people from a huge variety of courses, which I think is really important. It’s important to get to learn your subject, but it’s equally important to learn about other people’s experiences and form a community.
How did you become a member of staff and how has that helped build skills for your chosen career?
I had a huge respect for the media technical demonstrators at New Adelphi, as they’d always been so helpful and supportive and supplemented the course in a way that full formed me as a film-maker and set me on my path. So when a vacancy on the team opened soon after I graduated, I applied for it and was unbelievably amazed and excited to be offered the position. From there on more opportunities arose, and I am now on the production academic team as well. Both these opportunities help me every day to become more creative, up to date with the latest equipment, and stay in touch with fantastic professionals I get to call colleagues. And last but not least, students are my teachers now – they challenge me and show me so many creative paths I would never think of – they are the ultimate incentive to better myself and be the mentor they need.
Tell us more about your work – what do you focus on?
I am a freelance cinematographer and director. Most of my work is in the music industry, where I film live music and music videos. Across the years I’ve taken on a variety of projects, from fashion films and content for theatre shows to interviews and promotional material all across the arts and educational sector. Currently, I am collaborating with HOME on their promotional material for the MCR Open 2021 exhibition.
If you could give one piece of advice in one sentence, what would you say?
Take every opportunity that you are presented with and trust that you are the best person for the job!
Would you do uni all over again?
Absolutely! So much so that I am truly considering it!
My name is Rowan, I am 23. I grew up mostly in South West Wales, but my family moved around a lot while I was growing up, so it’s been nice to have spent three years living in one place and getting to know Manchester and Salford as cities. I study BA (Hons) Fine Art and I am now in my final year. In my first year I lived at Peel Park Quarter and got the full on-campus experience, but I have since moved into a shared house in Rusholme with some friends.
Can you tell us more about your course? Any particular modules you have enjoyed?
I have really enjoyed my course so far and I can’t believe it’s almost over! The course is rooted in studio practice- making art in the studios, and there is a lot of freedom within that to really explore different ways of making work. Each term there is also a theoretical/academic module that runs alongside the studio practice to support your practice, and this became one of my favourite parts of the course. After I finished my A Levels, I wasn’t sure I ever wanted to write another essay again, but there is so much flexibility in what you can choose to research and write about, and the lectures cover so many different topics, that writing the essays became something I really enjoyed. So much so, that I went from dropping A Level English, to writing a first-class dissertation. The support of the lecturing staff, and the extra opportunities to improve your academic writing with Wordscope, really helped me to reach my full potential and to really explore topics I was passionate about.
Some of my favourite modules however were the professional practice modules in second year. Something that really attracted me to coming to Salford were the professionalising opportunities you have access to, and the professional practice modules really give you a chance to gain real world connections and professional experiences. For me, I chose to be a part of the gallery group and put on a physical exhibition outside of uni. We spent the best part of two terms researching, organizing, and planning our physical show, however shortly after booking the venue, we went into lockdown and we could no longer go ahead with our plans. I really didn’t want this to be the end of the experience however, so instead I decided to host an online open call through my Instagram. Over the course of a month, I received over 100 submissions from all over the world, and I curated an online exhibition featuring the work of 17 artists. It was a really exciting experience, and I was able to put all the skills I have learnt throughout my time at Salford to use, and really showed me what I am capable of achieving. I am still incredibly proud of this accomplishment!
Why did you choose to study at Salford?
I really wasn’t sure where I wanted to go to university when I was applying, and I didn’t have many opportunities to go to open days or anything- so the first time I was able to visit Salford was actually the day of my interview. At the other interviews I had been to it felt quite intimidating and competitive, people trying to psych each other out before they went in for the interviews and things like that! Salford really stood out in comparison, Brendan and David were lovely, they offered us biscuits, and showed us around and made us feel completely at home! I was there by myself, and everyone was so friendly, and I felt straight away that I fit in. I remember riding up in the lift after we had seen all the incredible print room facilities and 3D workshops, and Brendan asked if anyone had any questions. I remember everyone stayed silent until someone else’s dad said ‘I think everyone is just blown away,’ and that was exactly how I felt. I knew on the train home that Salford was the University for me.
Where did you hear about the course?
I remember looking online! Visiting for my interview however completely confirmed for me that Salford was the university I wanted to go to. The campus and the facilities speak for themselves, and I think it’s important to get a sense of the university beforehand- A course can be perfect on paper but when you are there you realize it’s just not for you.
Would you recommend your course to others?
Absolutely. This course has been so incredibly instrumental in helping me to realize all the things I am capable of and helping me reach my full potential. I have learnt so much about myself and what it is I am passionate about through this course.
Do you find lecturers are supportive? How have you found academic teaching?
The lecturers really want you to succeed, they really want to help you to achieve everything you can. The encouraging and supportive environment at Salford has really made my university experience a great one. Obviously, no one could have expected how COVID-19 would impact every aspect of life, but the staff team have made the transitions between distance and in person teaching much easier – and on a personal note they have been incredibly understanding about my limitations and anxieties as the situation has changed through the year.
Can you tell me about some of the facilities you use on campus? (pre COVID-19)
The studios are a big part of the Fine Art experience, they become your second home in a lot of ways and it is great to work in such a vibrant space. Throughout the year as people’s work develops, the space transforms and it’s a really exciting thing to be a part of. A lot of my work is digital however, so I also found myself making the most of the Mac Suits in the New Adelphi building, and the fully kitted specialist equipment store. These resources have been invaluable to me, as it can be quite expensive to make high-quality artwork, but being able to access all the latest software, and industry standard equipment has enabled me to really make my work be the best it can be.
In first year, everyone gets comprehensive introductions to all the workshops and facilities at the University, and one of the things I loved the most about this, was the way we are encouraged to think creatively about how these facilities can be used within our practices. As a fine art student, you are encouraged to make the most of what is available to you, and that can mean using the laser cutter to make artwork on ham or use the 3D printer to print a surface that can be inked up and put through the printing press. If you have an idea, the staff team will help you work out the best way of achieving it and you really can take your practice in any direction you want.
Where are you usually taught? What opportunities are there to collab with others? (pre COVID-19)
The New Adelphi building is the home of the Fine Art course. Just a stone’s throw from the Salford Crescent train station, up on the 6th floor (with the best views) are the Fine Art studios. The studios are a really collaborative space and this fosters a community environment. Collaboration is encouraged throughout the fine art course, from dedicated days like Program Day and Curious Campus where everyone is encouraged to share ideas and make connections, down to more personal projects which might develop further outside of university. For example, Lauren Chapman, fellow Fine Art student, and I have worked collaboratively on some music and video pieces that started as ideas in the studio but have really come to life since then.
The New Adelphi building however really is a creative hub, as the site of the school of arts and media, you meet more than just your course mates, and I have friends who do fashion, photography, and journalism – so you often find yourself working with people on quite different projects all together!
Where do you see yourself when you graduate?
When I started at University, I knew I really enjoyed art, but I don’t think I ever imagined a career as an artist as a realistic possibility. Over the three years I have spent at Salford, however, the course really prepares you for life after university through professionalising opportunities, artist talks, and modules like Exit Velocity that help you to prepare for what it is you want to do after graduation. I feel now that I have a much better understanding of the realities and what it means to be a working artist. I have also been able to access so many opportunities that have helped me build up my CV, build a professional network, and given me invaluable real-world experience. Looking at other recent graduates and having opportunities to speak with them about their journeys since graduating Salford, such as Mollie Balshaw and Rebekah Beasley the Directors of short supply and Artist Sade Mica, I hope to follow in their trail-blazing footsteps and really utilize everything I have learnt during my time at Salford to carve out a successful career for myself in the arts.
Would you consider studying a masters at Salford?
I definitely would – Salford offers some really exciting and more specified masters courses such as Socially Engaged Arts Practice, and Alumni discount that makes studying a masters much more accessible.
Tell us about some guest speakers you may have heard from as part of your course
Artist Talks are one of my favourite parts of the fine art course. They give a really personal insight into the inner workings of an artist’s practice and the realities of being a working artist today. Just a few of the speakers I’ve from as part of the fine art course include, London based Artist Brian Cyril Griffiths, musician and artist Ruby Tingle, and director of the Whitworth and Manchester Art Gallery Alistair Hudson.
Some of my favourite talks we have had during my time on the course however have been those from Salford Fine Art Alumni, as these really showcase the amazing talent this course has produced. Just a few of these include Katie McGuire introducing her contemporary sculpture practice, Jane Lawson who discussed her journey from Salford degree show to exhibiting artist and key team member at Castlefield Gallery, Sarah Hardacre presenting her collage practice, Alena Ruth Donely on her rug making practice and experience as British Council Fellow at the Venice Biennale, and multidisciplinary art Sade Mica who introduced their exciting practice and exhibition history. Seeing and hearing about the different paths these artists have taken from being since graduating Salford, really exemplifies the way Salford is a stepping stone to success, and as someone who soon is also going to be a Salford Graduate, I find these talks incredibly inspiring.
Tell us more about yourself as an artist
I would describe my artist practice as multidisciplinary. I often incorporate elements of video, photography, performance, and collage into my work; more recently however I’ve also been working with newer technology such as Artificial Intelligence and 3D modelling. I really enjoy exploring the different ways these technologies can be incorporated into my fine art practice, especially as the way we engage with and experience art has changed so much during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, one of my most recent pieces I developed is an entirely virtual environment that can be explored but only accessed via the internet. The piece can be found at http://latentspace.site/.
My work is often centred around my queerness, exploring the interactions between queer identity, achieves, politics, and popular culture. My most recent work focuses on the positive potential of queerness.
The Kiss – Rowan Pritchard (2020)Genderless Form – Rowan Pritchard (2019)Who Matters – Rowan Pritchard (2019)
Who inspires you? What are your influences? What medium do you usually use?
I really draw a lot of my inspiration from theory, reading cultural and Marxist queer theory is often a starting point for my ideas. I am also inspired by the world around us, the way we interact and consume imagery and information every day, and how those things influence our lives.
I often look to other artists as a source of inspiration, photographers like Nan Goldin, Peter Hujar, Wolfgang Tillmans, Zanele Muholi, film-makers like Derek Jarman. I am really inspired by Danielle Braithwaite-Shirley and the way she makes video game art works.
I often use video footage as the starting point for my work, even if the work then gets developed into something quite different. For my work with Artificial Intelligence, I often use found footage and footage from popular culture.
How has Salford encouraged your creator practice?
Studying at Salford has really given me the resources and the support to be creative and take creative risks within my work. I think something Salford really encourages, and something that has been important in my development as an artist has been learning not to shy away from things just because initially, they seem daunting, or you may not know exactly how to do them. Some of my best work has come from trying something that initially felt challenging, and seeing where that process took me.
Having the space, the facilities, and the support to try new things, explore new techniques, and experiment is something that I’ve come to really understand the value of during my time at Salford.
Are there any particular favourite galleries/art spaces which you would recommend in Manchester and Salford?
Manchester and Salford have a really buzzing art scene that is totally worth throwing yourself into! West Art Collective was founded by former Salford Fine Art Students and they throw amazing art events at Antwerp Mansion (Covid permitting!). In Salford there’s some amazing artist lead spaces including Paradise Works and Islington Mill that are always worth keeping an eye on! On Mirabel Street near Victoria Station you can find Soft Spot, Ps. Mirabel and Paper Gallery, and they always through really exciting openings where you can start to meet new people and forge connections. Home is one of my personal favourites because of the variety of events they put on – especially the films! Short Supply are recent Salford Fine Art Graduates, and they are making waves with their artist lead program, and they often have amazing exhibitions and opportunities. There is always something going on in Manchester and Salford are worth keeping an eye on social medias is the best way to stay up to date with the latest!
Any online events / activities you would recommend for artists during lockdown?
The Holden Gallery here in Manchester has been putting out some really engaging content during Lockdown, including hosting site specific artworks on their Instagram stories. Caustic Coastal is another gallery that has adapted interestingly to lockdown- moving from their physical space in Salford to an entirely virtual set up. I’ve also been really making the most of online artist talks over the past year- it’s always worth tracking what your favourite artists are up to and seeing if they have any talks coming up! In general, seeing how artists have adapted to making work and sharing work on digital platforms has been really interesting! The level 5 Salford Fine Art students, for example, have been producing an amazing online exhibition and zine over on @rethink.refund.reboot on Instagram that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.
One of the best things about being based in Salford and Manchester is the really exciting community of artists, opportunities for collaboration stem further than just the University, and being able to work with MMU students and other artists across the two cities is really exciting. Recently some of my AI work exploring queer comfort and intimacy featured in a physical zine by MMU student Ash Taylor. Some of this AI work was also included in the Salford LGBT+ History Month Digital Exhibition in February.
I also recently had an amazing experience working with Manchester based curatorial platform PROFORMA, and the arts organization Broken Grey Wires, in partnership with HOME gallery in Manchester and the Live Art Development Agency, to develop a short film exploring the relationship between queer culture and mental health as part of a workshop series. This film was showcased through the PROFORMA and Broken Grey Wires platforms back in November and can now be viewed below.
Are you involved in any projects outside of university? Tell us about them
Over the course of the last month, I’ve been working on some collaborative art work for The X Collab. As collaboration has been limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s been a really fantastic opportunity to meet and work with other creative students from across the UK. I am really looking forwards to seeing the work exhibited in both an online exhibition and in a physical publication soon.
How can we keep in touch?
Over the last year social media and online platforms have become so important in how we connect! Over only Instagram I post regular updates with what I am working on and involved with- so if you are interested in seeing what I am up to give me a follow @rt.pritchard. My linktree also includes links to everything I’ve been working on lately so you can check out everything I have been up to!
My name is Stela Kehayova, almost 21 years old, and I was born in Bulgaria. When I was 10, my family decided to move to the sunny island Cyprus. This is where I grew up, graduated high school and to this day I still live there with my family. My majors in high school were history, ancient Greek, Latin, Greek Literature, and also took some Spanish classes. I used to be very obsessed with learning languages and throughout my school years I took German and Turkish classes too (I already speak fluently Bulgarian, Greek, and of course, English). I had always had a thing for arts and design, but I never thought I would study something related in university. As I mentioned earlier, I was quite absorbed by language learning and also history, but obviously, that changed. In my last year of high school, I decided my true passion was design and digital arts. Currently I study Interior Design at the University of Salford and I am in my second year. I stayed at a private student accommodation during the first year of my course, but for the second year with everything going on I decided it will be the most beneficial for me to stay in Cyprus with my family and just study online during the whole academic year.
Can you tell us more about your course?
Well, my course is Interior Design, so we mainly work on various projects that require designing for an existing or non-existing space. Sometimes we get to design only one area of a space, i.e., a reception, a room in a hotel, an exhibition and most recently a whole co-working building. We do, however, have other modules that require a lot of research and as much writing on different design-related themes and topics. The module I truly enjoyed with all my heart, was the last one we had, which was Specialist Design Project. We had to design a co-working space, which may sound boring at first, but we had the freedom to do whatever our heart desired!! We did have some requirements to fulfil but the design part was completely up to us. I sincerely hope we get to do more of these modules in the future. There is nothing better than having freedom when designing. This was the only module I felt that I could freely do everything in my own style and express my personality through my design, that is why I loved it so much.
Dreamscape 2 – Stela Kehayova
Why did you choose to study at Salford?
I chose Salford, because I felt that their response to my application was the sincerest and they ‘desired’ me the most of all the universities I had applied to. The university also has the amazing New Adelphi building which definitely affected my decision. Overall, while researching all my options it seemed that the Salford University is very well-known for its design and media-related courses and how much they care about these departments.
Where did you hear about the course?
It is a bit of a complicated story 😁. In Cyprus we have people who are our ‘counsellors’ when choosing a university and a degree, I am not sure if this is a thing in the UK. Long story short, this woman who was my counsellor is also an ambassador for the Salford University in Cyprus. When she heard I wanted to study Interior Design she immediately recommended me this university and although, I did not know anything about it, I took her word for it and started collecting information about it. It did not take long till I made up my mind. As I mentioned earlier seeing the New Adelphi building through a virtual tour on the website, really impressed me.
Do you find lecturers are supportive?
I have had a very heart-warming experience with one of my tutors during my first year. There was a period when I was in a very dark place mentally due to personal circumstances and even wanted to quit my course, but then I also did not want to get any proper help or psychological support. So, all I had the courage to do was share my mental state with one of my tutors. All I have to say is that just knowing someone cared about me there, truly helped me get out of that slump. I owe a big ‘thank you’ to that person for checking up on me and willing to listen to me at that time.
Can you tell me about some of the facilities you use on campus? (pre COVID-19)
I was always in the New Adelphi! Something about this building makes my heart happy. I do have a fully capable laptop to use at home, so I did not need to go there. I was always in the open-space computer suites on the 5th floor! Everyone knew they could find me there at all times.
Where do you see yourself when you graduate?
After graduating, I will be enrolling in Korean studies course in Bulgaria. So, I do not see myself staying in the UK and working in an Interior Design practice. Even if I did not plan to do a completely different degree afterwards, it would still be highly unlikely for me to work in a place like that. I have always felt that my style does not match what companies are usually looking for, therefore I will give it my best to build a brand or a name for myself by presenting my work on different social media platforms. I also have a big interest in Animation, Video Game design and even Graphic Design. I am still exploring my style, working hard and putting all my efforts into learning various software and programmes so that I can have the freedom to produce only work that matches my own expectations and standards. Fingers crossed that I get to grow and work as a designer in South Korea.
Would you consider studying a masters at Salford?
If I were to continue my design studies, then yes there is a possibility for that. As I said earlier, Salford is known for caring about its design related courses and also has some amazing facilities for Animation students, which I would be interested in studying as a master’s degree. When I visited, the university’s building in MediaCity I was surprised by the studios there. Incredible studios for those who want to experiment with virtual reality and video game design.
Tell us about some guest speakers you may have heard from as part of your course
We’ve had company representatives who aim to educate us and introduce us to various materials we might want to use in our work. Two companies we were introduced to this year are Egger laminates and Formica, both promoting their business for laminates and laminated products. In our first year, we had a one-time tutorial with a Graphic Design Tutor, who introduced us to InDesign. I found that one tutorial very helpful. It was quick, informative and gave us the basics for using InDesign.
Tell us more about your work
It took me a long time to discover what I genuinely like and what I look for in Interior Design. In the beginning, I thought this field focuses mainly on furniture and materials, so that is what I focused on as well. Now, a year later, I have picked some of my favourite materials to use and I discovered that I like to experiment with lighting and colours. I also started using confidently pink tones and hues, as well as lavender, purple, aqua, sky blue, and royal blue. Combining shiny mosaic tiles and matte plastic and concrete has become a habit of mine. Most importantly, I now acknowledge and proudly accept that my truest style does not fit the ‘norm’. I do not like what Interior Design is now and how it is portrayed. I want to create dreamscapes! Dreamy escapes that show a different world! Like a portal to a different reality! That is what I want to do. I believe I will only be able to design for clients looking for something ‘crazy’ and unreal for their businesses.
Who inspires you?
I prefer to work mostly digitally. Creating dreamy escapes using 3D rendering software is something I enjoy and practice every day.
It is no secret that my biggest inspiration was, is, and always will be South Korea and Korean music. Everything I do is always inspired or somehow affected by Korea. I don’t think this is that obvious when looking at my work, but in my heart, I know that this is what keeps me going, what motivates me and helps me generate unique ideas. Something else that as affected me tremendously is exploring the Retrowave movement. The music, the colours, the psychedelic animations… they ‘move’ something in me. Perhaps, their influence can be seen more prominently in my own creations. Last but not least, K-pop music videos! The amount of thought and creativity that goes into creating a music video for a K-pop song is absolutely incredible. Always unique, always stunning, always a new concept.
How has Salford encouraged your creator practice?
All in all, Salford helped me because they allowed me to stay in my country and only attend the course online. The independence I gained from this decision encouraged me to literally take things in my own hands, shows some self-determination and just take the best out of this year.
Any online activities you would recommend for artists during lockdown?
Yes! I strongly encourage everyone, not just artists, to go and purchase some online courses. I have found that Domestika courses are reasonably priced and offer tons and tons of new knowledge. Personally, I already have about 10 courses from this platform and they are all excellent and taught by experienced professionals. Of course, there are people doing great tutorials on YouTube as well; I often find myself searching for a very specific tutorial that I know would only exists on YouTube. I only recommended Domestika because they have a huge range of online courses for artist and people who work in the creative industry. Software, crafts, photography, design, animation and even business classes are available. Whatever it is, I just hope everyone finds something new to learn, to explore a new hobby, to improve their skills.
Are you involved in any projects outside of university? Tell us about them
I am working on myself a lot. I think that is the biggest and most important project I could ever work on so I am giving it my all. I want to better myself in every way possible. Career-wise I am trying out the #posteveryday art challenge, which basically ‘forces’ an artist to create a piece everyday for 365 days. The goal is for the artist to both advance their skills, experiment and learn to make fast decisions, create content for their portfolio, and of course, gain followers on Instagram, if that is something that interests them.
#ShareYourStory – is there anything you would like to use this platform for to raise awareness?
Yes, two things actually.
I would like to remind everyone to be kind. Please, if you have nothing nice to say to someone, don’t say anything. Everyone is going through things on their own. Maybe a bad word today means nothing to you, but it can be the one thing that completely destroys someone’s last hope. So, be kind. ❤
Another very important thing. Focus on yourself and your future. I know this has been an overused phrase, but it really is a golden saying. Make sure that whatever you do today will pay off tomorrow. Make sure that each day you are making even the smallest steps towards your goals, no matter what they are. From learning a new language to learning how to make the perfect eyeliner wing. Every single goals is important and valuable. Remember, your life is yours and everything you want you can achieve, as long as you are ready to work for it. ✨
My Instagram page is @myseoulland, if anyone wants to check out the dreamscapes I create. As I mentioned, before I will challenge myself with the Post-every-day challenge, because why not? I want to test myself and see how far I can go and what I can gain from it.
