Local Graduates Present Artworks at MK Gallery

Opening this week in MK Gallery’s Project Space, Platform 2017 comprises four solo exhibitions of exceptional work by promising graduates from three local universities. This year’s graduates, Simon Harutyunyan, Christopher Daubney, Dominyka Brauskaite and Elizabeth Cahill, have been selected from the University of Northampton, University of Bedfordshire and University of Hertfordshire. One exhibitor will be nominated by MK Gallery for the Platform Graduate Award, for a chance of winning £2,500 and a mentoring scheme.

Devised in 2012, the Platform Graduate Award is an initiative to support emerging artistic talent to further their practice following graduation. Led by the CVAN South East (Contemporary Visual Arts Network South East), it is a partnership between five galleries: Aspex in Portsmouth, De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, MK Gallery in Milton Keynes, Modern Art Oxford and Turner Contemporary in Margate.

Every year, each of the partner organisations selects graduates from their local university degree shows to participate in the Platform exhibitions and award programme, with a view to highlighting the outstanding talent of emerging visual artists. Each organisation subsequently nominates one of their exhibitors to be considered for the associated regional Platform Graduate Award prize, with the winning artist announced in December 2017.

The exhibition dates are:

Simon Harutyunyan, BA Photography and Video Art, University of Bedfordshire,
31 August – 4 September.
Christopher Daubney, BA Fine Art, University of Northampton, 7 – 11 September.
Dominyka Barauskaite, BA Fine Art, University of Hertfordshire, 14 – 18 September.
Elizabeth Cahill, BA Fine Art, University of Hertfordshire, 21 – 25 September.

Public previews for each exhibition will take place on the Thursday at 6pm and will include wine
and refreshments. All are welcome.

To find out more visit www.mkgallery.org.