P&J Live has today announced an exciting new community-led partnership with Robert Gordon University’s Gray’s School of Art, creating a unique platform for students and recent graduates to exhibit and sell their artwork at the North East’s largest live event venue.

The collaboration will see a rotating collection of artwork displayed throughout P&J Live’s International Conference Centre, providing thousands of delegates, visitors and event attendees with the opportunity to experience and purchase original pieces from some of the region’s most promising creative talents.

The initiative highlights both organisations’ commitment to supporting emerging artists and celebrating the rich cultural landscape of the North East.

The timing of the partnership adds an extra layer of significance, with Gray’s School of Art graduates returning to P&J Live next week for their graduation ceremony, along with students from various other faculties. For many students, the occasion will mark not only the culmination of their studies, but also the beginning of their professional artistic journey through this new showcase.

Rob Wicks, Managing Director at P&J Live, said: "On a recent visit to other conference venues operated by Legends Global in Los Angeles and Denver, it was apparent to me how well they had integrated art into their environments, and so I was keen to see if we could replicate that here in Aberdeen. Gray’s School of Art was the natural partner, and they recognise that we can provide a high-profile platform for students and graduates to share their work with the thousands of people who visit the venue each year. This collaboration brings creativity into our conference spaces while supporting the next generation of artists as they begin their careers. With graduates celebrating their achievements here this week, it makes this partnership even more special."

Sally Reaper, Director of Look Again, Gray’s School of Art’s Public Engagement initiative, added: "This partnership offers an invaluable opportunity for our students and graduates to gain exposure to a diverse audience and connect with potential buyers. Having their work showcased in such a prestigious venue demonstrates the quality and ambition of our creative community, and we are thrilled to see this launch coincide with graduation celebrations."

Artists featured within the collection include:

• Amanda Hirst: showcasing ‘Flint’ and ‘Live Sustainably’ – multimedia pieces presenting a personal reflection on how the artist has been shaped by community, environments, politics and outlook.
• Barbara Boyne: celebrates colour fabric, maps and travel on recycled board.
• Delaney Fairweather: presents two wave paintings inspired by the Scottish boast and her home in Auchmithie.
• Diarmad MacKinnon: showcasing artwork from areas of interest including travels, folklore and books.
• Fiona Livingstone: has hung ‘The thunder of my lungs’ – an oil on canvas piece inspired by the swan.
• Heather McWilliams: explores themes around working-class artists and how this influences education, time, energy and opportunities.
• Heather Thompson: focuses on forests and woodlands, reflecting the life cycle of the tree through the use of natural materials.
• James Downie: who is fascinated by the visual motif of the Raven and the religious, mythological and symbolic meanings that have been attached to the bird.
• Kate Stratford: who focuses on the silent film era and the Golden age of Hollywood, drawing inspiration from fashion magazine illustrations of the 1920s.
• Lily Moody: who celebrates the everyday and overlooked moments of daily life.
• Marianna Michalska: whose work was created in response to the Geneva Conventions of 1949.
• Michaella Gordon: engages with art history through contemporary reinterpretations of significant paintings.
• Niamh Gemmell: who examines modern witchcraft practices and rituals.
• Rebekah Warrington: who draws on ideas surrounding femininity and the uncanny.
• Sarah Ferguson: who tells a story of communication from the past told through layers of coloured pencil.
• Taro Rose: who explores and depicts themes of portrayed compositions and how the dead interact with synthetic death.

The artwork exhibition will be available to visitors throughout the year, transforming the International Conference Centre into a vibrant gallery space while offering artists the opportunity to reach new audiences and generate income from their work.

With collections set to rotate every six months for the foreseeable future, it’s hoped this exposure will set graduates up for a fruitful career.