Creative Students Scoop Top Gallery Prizes

Two students from @EKC__Group in Broadstairs and Canterbury scooped the top two prizes for the Further Education category in the Turner Contemporary and @CanterburyCCUni’s Portfolio Competition 2020.

Level 3 Art and Design student, Zara Shah, from the Group’s Broadstairs College, was awarded the top prize for their compelling audio-based work. The fictional story, based on real events, details the journey of a young Afghan refugee who loses their family to war and travels across the world to the UK to save their own life.

Principal of Broadstairs College, Kurt Salter, commented: “We’re proud to see Zara’s work selected by the Turner Contemporary and Canterbury Christ Church University as the winner of the Further Education category. 

“This achievement is a testament to the talent of our Creative Industries students, and the hard work and dedication of our staff who have gone above and beyond to support our learners during the lockdown.” 

Level 3 Graphic Design student, Dominic Astell, from the Canterbury School of Visual Arts at the Group’s Canterbury College, received the runner-up award for their ‘Place Book’.

“The book contains a selection of posters for businesses found in the seaside town of Margate,” commented Dominic who continued: “I decided to create these posters with as little as possible, following the art movement of Minimalism.

“This approach came from how I noted many of the signs becoming more ‘up to date’ whilst following this style, i.e. thinner text, few colours etc.

“My intention with the book is to represent the town’s local businesses in a more modern fashion, with a hope to see if this style change affects the perceptions of them, as the town has undoubtedly been following a similar approach in its attempts at regeneration.”

Both students impressed the competition judges, earning them spots in the Turner Contemporary’s online exhibition, ‘Portfolio 2020: Places and Spaces’.

The Portfolio Competition acknowledges and celebrates the creative talents of students, educators and community groups across Kent and Medway. The online exhibition can be viewed on the Turner Contemporary’s website.