Students saddle up to create artistic legacy at racecourse

The work of art, which will take pride of place in the main-stand tunnel, is being designed by students from the college’s Art and Design course.

The initiative, a first for Hamilton Park, has been hailed as an opportunity for students to showcase their work in the community.

Kelly Cunningham, Art and Design lecturer at New College Lanarkshire, said: “Working in partnership with Hamilton Park Racecourse is an incredibly exciting prospect for our Art and Design students and for the wider college.

“It offers the students a unique opportunity to work with a hugely reputable client that is local to the college – giving students invaluable experience of working with a live brief that will allow them to see their work showcased in the local community.”

Over 20 art and design students will each create their own interpretation of the brief before a winning entry is selected.

The candidates have already visited the course with tutor Kelly to view the site and hear a presentation about the venue from Ashley Moon, head of marketing and operations.

Ashley said: “Since we opened in 1926, Hamilton Park Racecourse has been the tied to the local community and surrounding area.

“We are delighted to have partnered with the college as we look to further cement those links and create this one-off piece of art for our venue.

“We are really looking forward to seeing how the students interpret the brief. This is a fantastic opportunity for them to create a piece of history which will be on display for years to come.”

The project is being written into the curriculum of the course, as well as having the honour of having their work displayed at the course the winning entry will also pick-up £250, while two runners-up will take away £100 each.

It’s expected the winning entry will be unveiled during the spring.

Hamilton Park chief executive Vivien Kyles said: “The history of the course has always been intrinsically linked to the wider Lanarkshire community and this design competition carries on that legacy.

“We are really excited by this project and cannot wait to see the end results.”