Manchester School of Art alumni visit Degree Show 2024 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their graduation

A group of ten Manchester School of Art alumni recently visited the University on the 50th anniversary of their graduation to reconnect and reminisce about their time spent at Manchester Met. Michael Werbicki, John Thomas, George Robinson, Colin Wren, Polly Foster, Laurie Newton, Tony Charlton, Malcolm Kirton and Liz Allen joined us to enjoy this year’s Degree Show, take in the fantastic work of our final-year students and explore how the physical spaces have changed. 

The group have revisited the School every 10 years since their graduation to have their reunion. However, this year’s reunion had a special meaning given their 50th year anniversary and the coinciding 200th anniversary of Manchester Metropolitan University. Furthermore, the timing of their visit allowed them to see the recent refurbishment work that has taken place to preserve the 141-year-old, Grade II listed Grosvenor West Building and innovative Holden Gallery. 

Michael Werbicki, who had travelled from Bradford on Avon, reflected on how the School of Art has developed since they graduated: “Manchester School of Art has grown enormously since it was part of Manchester Polytechnic in our day. I was particularly impressed with the School of Digital Arts building, plus the new entrance to the older part of the college on Cavendish Street. I only had time to look around the Fine Art degree show (which I think was the strongest show I have seen for a long time) but was curious to see that the spaces it occupied were in very good decorative condition and every available space was being used. I was glad to see that the old painting studios had been restored and had a ‘fresh’ feel about them. This may of course, come about for the presentation of the degree shows, but certainly was different to the rough and ready interiors we encountered in the early 1970’s. I was also pleasantly surprised with the landscaping of All Saints Park and the re-paving of the ‘apron’ in front of the college.” 

Since graduating, the alumni have gone on to work in a wide range of creative fields. Michael Werbicki, who is now a professional sculptor, commented: “One of the key things I took away after studying at Manchester School of Art was how privileged I was to have had the experience. I was from a working-class background, the first of my family to go into higher education and to be fortunate to get a full grant to do so. I made some good lifelong friends who were probably as much part of my ‘education’ as any of the staff employed, although I do have fond memories of tutors that made a difference for me. I also must credit Manchester the city as a great place to live for three years and the opportunity to live independently in it.” 

View our student’s work from the 2024 Degree Show on the Digital Showcase now.