Wirral Met College alumnus and internationally renowned artist Christian Furr returned home to Wirral to support Wirral Borough of Culture 2019.
Former student and President of Wirral Met’s Alumni, Christian Furr was keen to find out more about Wirral’s ambitious cultural programme during its year as Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture. During his visit hosted by Sue Higginson, Principal of Wirral Met, Christian Furr met Peel Land and Property Group’s Director for Wirral Waters Richard Mawdsley to discuss opportunities to work with Wirral Met’s BA (Hons) Fine Art Degree students to produce an external mural to promote the exciting plans for the regeneration of Wirral Waters.
During lunch prepared by the College’s hospitality and catering students, Christian Furr met Assistant Director of Culture and Visitor Economy, Lucy Barrow, to discuss how he can support the Borough of Culture’s arts and culture programme. Wirral Met students on Degree programmes in Fine Art, illustration with animation, games art and design and the Higher National Certificate/Diploma in photography are being actively involved in this year’s Borough of Culture, to embrace the heritage and culture of their local community. Preparing for careers as professional artists, games designers, illustrators and animators, Wirral Met’s university level students are keen to boost Wirral’s culture and creativity, whilst showcasing the amazing place Wirral is to live, work and invest in. Discussions included Christian Furr providing master classes to the students to support their Borough of Culture projects.
The artist’s visit then progressed to the Williamson Art Gallery and Museum, where Principal Sue Higginson officially handed over College artefacts to Wirral’s heritage collection. The artefacts included the maul which HM Queen Elizabeth used to set the stone during the launch of the College’s Borough Road Campus in Birkenhead, 69 years ago, so is of significant historical interest. As an internationally acclaimed artist, Christian Furr is keen to explore an exhibition of his work either at the Williamson Art Gallery or the Lady Lever Art Gallery, where his visit culminated for the day.
Sue Higginson, Principal of Wirral Met College said, “Being Borough of Culture in 2019, provides us in Wirral with a fantastic opportunity to showcase all of the heritage and culture that our community has. Our Arts School President, Christian Furr, who initially trained in our Arts School and is now a successful London based artist of international acclaim, has come back to see us to see how he can work with our Arts School to contribute to the creative thinking that is our trade mark. We have programmes from introductory to Degree Level and there are still a few places on our BA (Hons) Fine Art. If anyone from our community wants to explore how they could develop their artistic talent, through our Arts School, get in touch and we would be happy to help.”
Lucy Barrow, Assistant Director, Culture & Visitor Economy, said “Wirral is proud to be the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture for 2019, providing a unique platform to promote the borough on a regional, national and international stage. Our programme for 2019 is inspired by discovery, exploration and the great outdoors and includes exciting commissions and collaborations with local, national and international artists and performers.
“I am delighted to be working with Sue Higginson and the Wirral Met College team to achieve our ambitions and incredibly proud that Christian Furr has agreed to be an ambassador for our Borough of Culture year. Our legacy will be that Wirral is place where culture and creativity is thriving and where Wirral children, young people and adults are inspired to pursue careers in the arts. The launch of these degree courses and other initiatives led by Wirral Met and the involvement of Christian will make a huge contribution to delivering this legacy for many years to come.”
For further details of Wirral Met’s art, design and media courses including university level programmes, click here.
