Laura McCafferty

I have been selected to represent the UK at the Biennale of Young Artists 2008.

Here Amanda Young, of Left Lion describes the event and its purpose- Eighteen of the best graduates from the East Midlands were selected to show their work at the 13th Biennale of Young Artists. Taking place during the end of May 2008 in Puglia, Southern Italy, it is the very first time that the UK has taken part. Supported by the Arts Council, there has been a huge investment into the East Midlands and its artists. The East Midlands is seen as becoming the place to visit on the cultural tourism map of the UK. With creative hubs such as Nottingham Contemporary, the New Art Exchange (Nottingham), Quad (Derby) and Curve (Leicester) there are key locations to form these foundations. In light of this, the future aim is to bring the 2013 Biennale to the East Midlands, featuring a vast array of contemporary European artworks.

The festival is organised by the Biennale des Jeunes Createurs de l Europe et del la Mediterranee (BJCEM), who formed in 2001 in Sarajevo. It is about peaceful relations beyond geographic borders, using art as a language of peace. It focuses on youth creativity, nurturing and challenging these artists. The aims are to promote artists creativity, strengthen cultural links among nations and be a platform for artists.

The Universities represented at the Biennale 2008 were Nottingham Trent, De Montford in Leicester, Derby and Loughborough. From Trent the artists range in discipline from Fashion Design artist Terri Cohen to Decorative Arts creative Laura McCafferty, Michael Pinchbeck of the MA Performance and Live Art, and from Fine Art Rosie Pickles and Hetain Patel.

There were 1000 Young Artists from 48 different countries. Resulting in a diverse range of work and a lively atmosphere. We were there for 10 days and they were some of the best days ever. I created the piece, Young Card Players, in celebration our time there. It features a group of us on the beach on hot afternoon playing cards. It was a day I did not want to end.