Tuesday saw the launch of an annual college art show in Truro city centre, which sees the 5,000th student exhibit their work at the week-long event.

Now in its 11th year, the This Way Up art exhibition on Lemon Quay is open to the public from 9am to 6pm until Friday (27th) and from 9am to 3pm on Saturday. Admission is free. Hosted by staff and students from Truro and Penwith College, and along with sister events in Penzance for Penwith College and the Penzance School of Art, and other summer shows for foundation art and design, media and photography, This Way Up is a chance to take local students’ work into the community.

Among the many exhibits this year from across a range of artistic disciplines will be the estimated 5,000th student given the opportunity to exhibit their work to the public for probably the first time.

“Our exhibitions reflect the confidence we have in encouraging exploration, diversity and achievement,” said Martin Page, team leader for art and design at Truro and Penwith College. “Our thanks to all the students and staff who have worked so hard and to all the sponsors who have supported us over the years with student awards. This event is a wonderful celebration of the diversity and excellence of work produced by art and design students at our college. This creative energy will support Cornwall and the whole country on into the future, as new professional artists and designers for the UK’s creative economy.”

This will be the first summer of exhibitions since Truro and Penwith College was rated outstanding by Ofsted earlier this year, the first college in the UK to achieve this under the new Ofsted rating system, and the first time the now-merged college has been assessed overall

The work on display represents a range of courses, ages, levels and disciplines from fine art, graphics, textiles, silversmithing and jewellery, ceramics, life drawing, work by students doing A levels, diplomas, the International Baccalaureate, foundation art and design, foundation degrees, part-time courses, and the Saturday Club for 14 to 16-year-olds. Awards celebrating student achievements will be presented at the private view.

“An exhibition of this kind can have a dramatic impact upon students’ future careers within the creative industries,” added Mark Dunford, deputy team leader for art and design. “The large white marquee provides a highly visible temporary gallery, right in the heart of our community. Visitors to the exhibition will be challenged to look at things differently or from another angle: another way up. This Way Up refers to the artistic journeys that our students have embarked upon, they are discovering their own artistic directions within the creative industries."