A Sunderland College HND student will showcase her at work at an upcoming exhibition at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art.
Bethany Dallas, who studies Fine Art at Bede Campus, is one of 100 artists picked from over 1400 submissions, after applying to an open call.
In association with leading department store chain Fenwick’s, this exhibition will present paintings, sculptures, photography, videos and more by self-taught creatives and hobbyists based in North East England, alongside several works by established artists.
Bethany was selected by an expert panel including North East musician and lead singer with Maxïmo Park, Paul Smith; artist Jasmina Cibic; Fenwick Strategic Partnerships Director, Leo Fenwick, Baltic Curator Niomi Fairweather; and Rose McMurray, Baltic Curatorial Assistant.
Bethany said: “This experience has really boosted my confidence and made me realise that I am a ‘real artist’.
“Having my work exhibited in Baltic has made me feel like a future as an artist is more possible than I once thought.”
Bethany will be exhibiting her dual screen video installation, created around the theme of domestic violence. The work will be exhibited alongside established artists such as Phyllis Christopher, Newcastle-based photographer known for documenting LGBTQ+ sexuality and protest in 1980s/1990s San Francisco; Holly Hendry, London-based sculptor and installation artist who explores what lies beneath the surface, from hidden underground spaces to the interior workings of the body; and British institution, household name and prolific painter Jim Moir (aka Vic Reeves) whose submission is a newly completed, unseen work.
This prestigious exhibition will be open to the public from Saturday 16 March until Sunday 1 September 2024.
Hollie Marshall, Lecturer and Programme Leader for Art & Design at Sunderland College said: “This is a huge achievement for any artist, let alone a student studying the second year of their HND.
“This will enhance Bethany’s career and put her at the forefront of professional opportunities for artists in the North East.”
She added: “I am immeasurably proud of Bethany’s achievement. She is a unique and exciting artist, who is at the beginning stages of fruitful career. This opportunity will enhance her confidence as an artist and provide opportunities to network within the field.
“To be a student and have work exhibited alongside prestigious artists, such as Holly Hendry and Vic Reeves is almost incomprehensible at this level. This is a huge testament Bethany’s practice and her success on the HND Fine Art.”
Residents of the North East region were encouraged to contribute their artwork to a significant open-call exhibition set to debut at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in March 2024.
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98% of our students progress to a positive destination
(*Destination data for Sunderland College students aged 16-18, academic year 2017/18).
Our achievement rates are well above the national average.
We are the College of the Year.
(*Top college nationally for BTECs, Pearson 2019)
100% of our HND and HNC students progressed to employment or further study.
(*Destination data, academic year 2016/17, HNC 19+)
We have recently invested £50 million in our facilities.
