Art schools across the UK have pledged to work together to help showcase the work of this year’s graduating fine students thanks to an initiative by Lancaster University.

Coronavirus has forced the cancellation of on-campus end-of-degree art shows.

Graduate Fine Art students from across the country will take part in a linked ‘festival of online degree shows’, using the hashtag #degreeshowsunited during June, July and August, in an initiative designed to celebrate and recognise the great diversity and talent of UK art students.

It is also envisaged the initiative will reach a far wider audience than the on-campus shows.

A shared calendar includes the launch of new websites, online events, Instagram takeovers, and Zoom chats, allowing virtual access to hundreds of graduate students’ work over the summer.

Universities so far collaborating on this initiative include Bath, Bolton, Edinburgh, Glasgow School of Art, Glyndwr (North Wales), Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool John Moores, Manchester Met, London Metropolitan University, Plymouth, Reading, Sheffield Hallam, and Westminster, with several more expected over the coming weeks.

Nathan Jones, a Lecturer in Fine Art (Digital Media) at Lancaster University and spokesperson for the initiative organisers based at Lancaster University, said, “A website can’t replace the unique experience of exhibiting your work together on campus with your peers, but an online festival provides a different opportunity – to see and present your work in the national context, and see what other artists are doing across the country.

“The opportunity for art students to connect and use this network for future collaborations and networks (virtual or otherwise) is unprecedented and we hope to nurture that.

“Creative people and organisations always use adversity to make positive things happen - we hope this activity will act as a catalyst to establish a larger network of young artists, as well as offering them a chance to connect with a much wider audience.”