Welcome to embroidery 2004.

The students represented on this web site have all completed the BA (Hons) Degree in Embroidery at the Manchester Metropolitan University – a unique course, producing unique students, with both specialist knowledge and transferable skills.
Key components of the BA (Hons) Embroidery Programme include:

• A broad understanding of diverse aspects of the history of art, craft and design and contemporary visual arts practice.
• A Contextual and Professional Studies programme.
• An understanding of appropriate technological processes: these range from state of the art computerised embroidery programmes to the unusual specialist stitching and fabric manipulation processes and digital media.
• Visual research, whether drawing based or photographic is encouraged.

The first and second years of the course are mainly project- based, for the duration of the third year students direct their own programme of study resulting in individual, original and creative responses to a broad range of themes, processes and materials. Whilst the emphasis at Manchester is on processes and techniques: learning through making, understanding through the manipulation of materials: that does not preclude the development, where appropriate of concept –led work.

Some students produce work that can be seen to be “on the edge”, hovering between so-called “fine art” and “craft” practice. Concepts may have originated from a preoccupation with materials and processes, but does not make the end result any less valid.

Work produced this year is, as always, amazingly diverse, including machine stitched wall papers; painstakingly deconstructed books; large scale fabric sculptures; Arran knitted pieces constructed from rope; surreal uncanny assemblages made from discarded toys; video installations; intricately made and embellished accessories and products for interiors as well as garments and large and small scale wall pieces. Underpinning all the work is an innate love of the seductive and tactile qualities of thread and cloth. The work can be seen to be grounded in textile history and/or techniques.

What employment fields do embroidery graduates enter? As might be expected careers are extremely varied, relating to a broad range of design and visual arts areas. Many students have gone on to MA or PhD postgraduate study in subjects as varied as gallery management, art in the environment, sculpture and textiles. Others have become teachers at all levels from primary and secondary through to further and higher education.

Some graduates work within the embroidery, textiles, fashion and media industries. Employment ranges from the specialist: designing embroideries for nursery goods, clothing or bed line; to the more general: as a buyer for retail clothing companies; to the technological systems support for embroidery software. Other graduates develop freelance careers in art, craft and design practice. Recent graduates have enjoyed considerable success on an international scale developing designs and products ranging from fashion prints, to lightings, to hand bags.

Others contribute textile artefacts, props, costumes and characters to a range of performance related media: film animation, theatre, opera and TV advertising.

Embroidery graduates establishing careers have pursued a variety of avenues: making and installing large scale commissions for private buildings including a concert hall and a cathedral; completing residencies in venues ranging from hospitals to a costume gallery; many have contributed to community programmes within the health, museum and art gallery sectors.

Several well-known artists, designers and makers studied embroidery at Manchester including Michael Brennand-Wood, Maxine Bristow, Kate Egan, Eleri Mills and Karen Nichols.

Dr Melanie Miller, Senior Lecturer in Embroidery, the Manchester Metropolitan University.

For information about the course please contact the programme leader
Jane McKeating: 0161 247 3535
j.mckeating@mmu.ac.uk

Or take a look at the online prospectus.