Developed in collaboration with our School of Arts & Creative Industries and MIMA (Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art), we're calling all creatives to celebrate this year's theme of 'creating a sustainable future'.
What is The MIMA Great Create? This year's winners Looking backHear from the judges, contestants and organisers of this year's The MIMA Great Create competition.
You are invited to submit a creative piece, developed solely for this competition, that responds to a set theme. If successful, your work will be featured in a special pop-up exhibition in the MIMA gallery, and you could win a number of exciting prizes.
Sign up to find out what this year's theme will be.
ComicA cartoon strip that encapsulates this year's theme.
MusicA piece of music reflecting on the environment.
VideoA film exploring a sustainable future.
ModelA model bringing to life your sustainable future.
ArtworkA drawing or painting that shows your vision for the future.
PhotographA photograph that encapsulates this year's theme.
FashionA fashion item that represents how clothing might look in a sustainable future.
DesignAn illustration that details a sustainable future.
Scarlett Gardner
They won £100 in Amazon vouchers. Their work is currently being exhibited at Teesside University's Net Zero Centre.
Francis White
They won £100 in Amazon vouchers. They were also invited to join Teesside University's design team for a shadowing experience.
Iran Mahadewage
They won £100 in Amazon vouchers.
Shiyi Li
They won £50 Amazon voucher and tickets to a Middlesbrough F.C game.
A montage of images from previous years.
Abigail is a graduate from Teesside University and a current Lecturer in Fashion. She is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the national fashion publication Sunday Girl. Abigail is also a Creative Producer for the Festival of Thrift, an annual northeast-based event celebrating sustainability. She has also worked with Launchpad helping students and graduates to launch their own businesses.
Bobby is a working-class artist and curator based in Teesside. He uses found objects to make work exploring themes of class, identity and place. Bobby is also co-director of the contemporary art space Pineapple Black, a special lecturer at Teesside University and a member of the Industry Advisory Committee at Bolton University. You can find some of his work in the Middlesbrough Collection at Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA).
Ben is Chief Executive at Theatre Hullabaloo, a children's arts charity that specialises in world-class theatre, performance, installations, and plays made for, by and with children. He has been a producer for Galaxy FM, an associate of Alphabetti Theatre since 2013, and was Executive Producer for NewcastleGateshead Cultural Venues.
Dawid is Professor of Decarbonisation of Industrial Clusters at the Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, Teesside University. Recognised amongst Stanford's Top 2% of Scientists globally, he's a respected figure with over 11 years of expertise in sustainable engineering and has attracted over £4m of external funding. With a substantial online following of 30,000, he is a thought leader driving impactful net zero research and innovation.
Drucilla Burrell is a photographer and Associate Creative Director for the Adobe Studio. Her photographic practice is rooted in the study of classical techniques and their implementation and dissemination via digital technology. Her recent commission for The National Gallery playfully re-imagined the power dynamics presented in traditional portraiture using contemporary digital methods.
Errol Theunissen is a self-taught painter and illustrator originally from Zimbabwe, who now lives in Middlesbrough. Art became a significant part of his life after he severely injured his spine and legs in a motor vehicle accident in Zimbabwe. He has exhibited in major UK cities such as Manchester, Newcastle, and London and was shortlisted for the Jacksons Painting Prize in 2022. Errol also had his painting 'Don't Disturb Me, I Am Talking To My Nan' selected for the RA Summer Exhibition 2023.
Elinor is a curator and writer whose work is informed by equity, justice and environmental concerns. As MIMA's Artistic Director she heads up the creative programme of events, exhibitions, research and engagement activity for this leading gallery and museum. Having worked in art sector for 15 years, she has curated residencies, exhibitions, collection projects, public and education programmes across the UK.
Hayley won The MIMA Great Create 2023 and is a wildlife illustrator, primarily working in gouache paint and digital. She studied graphic design and illustration for three years and has since started up her business Country Studio Creations. Her passion is to create pieces of art inspired by nature and wildlife.
This year we are offering a 'Working to a brief' workshop to help your students gain vital skills they will need as a practising creative. We're also able to come in and provide a launch workshop to help you incorporate the competition into your curriculum.
Groups of students can come along to bespoke Great Create days when they can visit our facilities and take part in activities to support the development of their entry.
Email sacirecruitment@tees.ac.uk to find out more.
Hayley Harris was announced as the second winner of The MIMA Great Create in March 2023 with her piece The Secret Garden inspired by her favourite book.
Jonathan Raiseborough was announced as winner of the inaugural The MIMA Great Create competition in May 2022 with his beautiful illustration, Boro Skyline.
