This year, for the first time, Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts (LICA) at Lancaster University is hosting a ‘Festival’ to celebrate the achievements of its 120 graduating students.

And this includes, for the first time, students from all five disciplines of Architecture, Design, Film Studies, Fine Art and Theatre, Drama and Performance.

The 2023 Festival, entitled ‘DISRUPTION’, will include an array of final projects including films, artworks, designs, and performances.

The event will be spread across five venues – four on campus including the Nuffield Theatre, Bowland Annex, the LICA building and Bailrigg House and the Dukes Cinema in Lancaster.

The Festival opens on the evening of June 21 from 6pm to 8pm in the LICA foyer with speeches and refreshments, followed by the opportunity to view student artworks and attend performances on campus, and see screenings at Festival partners the Dukes Cinema in Lancaster.

Director of Undergraduate studies for LICA Sarah Casey said: “The festival is an exciting milestone for LICA - it is the first time we have brought together the creative talent emerging from all five of our contemporary arts degree programmes and showcased it to a public audience.

“Congratulations to the students who have worked incredibly hard to realise this ambitious new event.”

The theme DISRUPTION was prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, when many of these graduating students experienced a year and a half of online classes, time away from studios and workshops and not recognising classmates and lecturers in person after months of digital interaction.

The students have looked at what DISRUPTION has meant to them as young creatives.

“It is the wild creativity, improvisation and synergy stemming from the pandemic,” explains a Festival spokesperson.

“It is found in the solidarity and unashamed intensity of addressing injustice through strike action.”

“It is a break in the flow to prompt new movement, burning dead roots so fresh growth can rise from the ashes.

“As a graduating year, disruption is our past, our present, and our future. We hope you enjoy DISRUPTION: the result of 3 years of effort, and the precursor of years of change.”

Venues and Opening Times:

BA: Fine Art

Bowland Annex A and B floors

LICA Foyer

Peter Scott Gallery

Open to all from 10am to 4pm, Thursday 22^nd - 28^th June, including 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday 24^th and 25^th June

BA: Design

LICA Building, A36 Ground Floor

Open to all from 10am to 4pm, Thursday 22^nd - 28^th June, including 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday 24^th and 25^th June

BA: Theatre, Drama and Performance

Nuffield Theatre

Wednesday 21^st June, three performances at 7pm, 8.30pm and 9.45pm

Thursday 22^nd June, four performances at 10am, 1.30pm, 3pm and 6pm

Friday 23^rd June, three performances at 5pm, 7pm, 8.30pm

Book free tickets at: https://www.lancasterarts.org/whats-on/

BA: Architecture

Bailrigg House

ground Floor

Open to all, 10am to 4pm Thursday 22^nd – Monday 26^th June, including 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday 24^th and 25^th June

BA: Film Studies

Dukes Cinema, Lancaster

Thursday June 22^nd at 2pm to 5pm

Wednesday June 28^th at 2pm to 5pm and reception.

Link to the event on Dukes’ page:

https://dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/lica2023