Call out for creatives to join this year’s Great Create

Creatives across Teesside are invited to share their inspiration for a sustainable future as part of this year’s MIMA Great Create.

Developed by MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), in collaboration with Teesside University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, MIMA Great Create calls for creative pieces which respond to the theme of ‘creating a sustainable future’.

The creative piece, which must be developed solely for MIMA Great Create, can be a comic, piece of music, film, model, artwork, photograph, fashion item or illustration. Successful entries will be featured in a special pop-up exhibition at MIMA.

Entries are welcome from anyone aged 16 or over. Judging will be in three categories; school or college student, current Teesside University student, creative in the community.

The MIMA Great Create judges, who come from across the creative industries, this year include magazine founder and fashion academic Abigail Dennison, artist and curator Bobby Benjamin, children’s art charity Theatre Hullabaloo chief executive Ben Dickenson, Professor Dawid Hanak of the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, photographer Drucilla Burrell, artist and illustrator Errol Theunissen, MIMA artistic director Elinor Morgan, and last year’s Great Create winner Hayley Harris.

Hayley was announced as the second winner of The MIMA Great Create in March 2023 with her illustration inspired by her favourite book The Secret Garden.

Speaking when she was announced as the winner, Hayley said: “I feel a strong connection with the book and characters, having lost a parent and being surrounded by wildlife and nature has helped to heal, give guidance and comfort.”

Her advice for those thinking of responding to future calls for MIMA Great Create submissions was: “Let your imagination run wild and don’t be afraid to let your artwork out into the world. It helps others in giving encouragement and a bit of inspiration.”

Angela Lawrence, Associate Dean (Marketing & Recruitment), Teesside University’s School of Arts & Creative Industries, said: “We are always overwhelmed with the brilliant standard of entries in the three years that we have been running MIMA Great Create.

“Each year our judges tell us what an absolute treat it is to review such creative work. The submissions we receive are always outstanding, full of creativity and imagination, and we’re already looking forward to seeing this year’s entries.”

The closing date for entries is Friday 29 March.

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