University of Worcester graduates Maria-Magdalena Mineva and Thomas Brown have been selected over strong competition from across the country, to work with The Arches Worcester Festivals team over the coming months.
Maria-Magdalena has been appointed to the role of Festivals Graduate Producer, working with the new Festivals team to stage four brand new and unforgettable festivals in Worcester next year.
Maria-Magdalena graduated with a Master of Theatre from the University of Worcester in July and has recent experience of festival production from her producing role working on the Try Me, Love Me Festival presented at the MAC in Birmingham and the University of Worcester this year.
Maria-Magdalena said: “I’m incredibly excited to join the Festival team. It is an amazing opportunity for a young graduate to learn and grow professionally and personally in the arts industry, as well as bringing art and culture to our community here in Worcester.”
Thomas Brown has been awarded the Graduate Commission opportunity for Light Night Worcester, the first of the new festivals taking place in 2020.
Thomas’s proposal, submitted in response to a call out for an original, creative, digital/light performance or installation wowed the selection panel with its ambition and clear portrayal of the Festival theme, connections.
Thomas, who has also only just graduated from the university with a Master of Art in Creative Media said: “When I saw the Light Night Worcester commission opportunity, I knew I had to go for it – to have the chance to make more video art in such a beautiful city, with its people, for its people – it is the best first step into the arts industry I could have wished for.”
“I am looking forward to working with the Festivals team to produce my next video installation.”
Thomas has just a few weeks to produce his dual projection-based video installation piece which will be part of the Light Night Worcester programme on Thursday 16 January from 5.30 – 10pm.
David Broster, Head of the School of Arts at the University of Worcester, said: “We are delighted to see that two of our graduates have been snapped up to work on this really exciting project for Worcester. I’m sure they will make a hugely positive contribution. We are really excited about the forthcoming festivals and the opportunities that this whole project will create for even more of our graduates.”
David Edmunds, Festival Director said: “We are so pleased to have Maria-Magdalena and Thomas on board. A key part of the Arches Worcester project and the Festivals programme is to create roles that are attractive to our graduates, providing opportunities for skills development and strengthening the creative sector in Worcester.”
