The University of Sunderland is celebrating 25 years of its Dry Run exhibition, a showcase for second-year BA Artist Designer Maker students specializing in glass and ceramics at the Shipley Art Gallery and Museum. The milestone exhibition, titled "A Celebration of Dry Run," brings together works from thirty artists who previously participated in the program, including a large ceramic bowl by recent graduate Lynn Donnelly. The show highlights the technical and conceptual evolution of the artists over the program's history.
This anniversary matters because it underscores the enduring role of Dry Run as a launchpad for emerging talent in glass and ceramics, with graduates going on to become influential artists, designers, and educators across Europe, Australia, and the United States. The exhibition not only honors the program's legacy but also demonstrates how sustained institutional support from the Shipley Art Gallery helps bridge the gap between education and professional artistic practice, reinforcing the University of Sunderland's significance in the international field of glass and ceramics.