Platform: 2014

About

Now in its third year, the Platform Graduate Award 2014 profiles new talent emerging from universities and colleges in the South East region. Working as part of CVAN (The Contemporary Visual Arts Network), five galleries in South East England — aspex, Portsmouth; De La Warr Pavilion, Bexhill; Modern Art Oxford; MK Gallery, Milton Keynes and Turner Contemporary, Margate — each showcase the work of recent graduates from their region, selected from university and college degree shows. One of the main goals of the Platform project is to develop successful ways for artists to further their practice following graduation. Each gallery puts forward the work of one graduate who will be considered for the Platform Award 2014, a valuable and prestigious award for an emerging artist comprising a £2500 financial award and a year of mentoring from an experienced art professional. Curatorial and learning staff from the five participating galleries select from degree shows at their local art colleges — choosing from across a range of mediums — and offer graduates the chance to be included in the Platform exhibitions. This includes working closely with gallery staff at every stage of the process and, in doing so, the graduates gain valuable skills and insight into what it takes to work as a professional artist. This year's shortlist for the Platform 2014 Award will be announced in the autumn and the winner will be announced at a Special Event on 1 November at aspex. The artists selected by aspex are below. We'll be adding more information about them all in the coming weeks — also keep an eye on Frame & Reference for more information and news about Platform from across the region. University of Chichester: Brad Kenny Samuel Lloyd Southampton Solent University: Chris Green Emily Taylor Arts University Bournemouth: Robin James Sullivan Steve Moberly University of Portsmouth: Robbie Lowden George Michels Winchester School of Art: Kirsty Smith Peter Driver