Designer opens Blackburn school's new art department (From This Is Lancashire)

Designer opens Blackburn school's new art department

9:00am Saturday 15th September 2012 in News

INTERNATIONAL fashion designer Wayne Hemingway returned to his East Lancashire roots to formerly open a new school art department.

The arthouse, the latest addition to Queen Elizabeth Grammar School’s, was opened by the Red or Dead label co-founder and former pupil at a special ceremony.

The studio classrooms, which are located in West Park Road, also include a digital studio on the ground floor as well as a light and airy flexible space for exhibitions and teaching on the first floor.

Pupils had the opportunity to talk about their work with Wayne, who opened the studios with a speech about the need for more support in the creative arts.

To mark the occasion, he also set the pupils a challenge to choose something that was important about life in their home town and to try and improve it.

QEGS head teacher Simon Corns said that Wayne’s message was inspiring to the current generation and reminded them of the variety of doors that could open with good creative arts qualifications.

He said: “We take art seriously at Queen Elizabeth’s as the investment in this vibrant department shows.”

Wayne set up Red or Dead with his wife Gerardine in 1983 and his first collection was inspired by Russian peasant clothing.

Previous students from QEGS have gone on to further their art studies at major schools including The Glasgow School of Art, Goldsmiths College and the Slade School of Art.

To support those wishing to focus on art, the school has also launched new scholarships for students entering at age 11 and 18.