Pendleton Sixth Form College Showcases Creativity at Salford Shopping City

On Saturday 8th March 2025, Pendleton Sixth Form College, part of the Salford City College Group, hosted a vibrant creative arts exhibition at Salford Shopping City. The exhibition featured an impressive selection of artwork produced by students in response to three distinct project briefs, showcasing the breadth and depth of talent within the College’s Creative Arts Department.

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Hidden in Plain Sight

Inspired by the work of Salford artist Ben Ark and Sheffield-based artist Mandy Payne, this project encouraged students to explore the often-overlooked details of everyday life. Working in collaboration with these professional artists, students from the Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art Design course and selected A-level textiles students created unique pieces that captured unseen perspectives and hidden beauty within familiar surroundings.

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Generate / Regenerate

For this project, Level 4 Foundation Diploma in Art Design students worked with poet Oliver James Lomax and musician Pete Whitfield to produce artworks reflecting themes of regeneration, rewilding, repurposing land, history, and the contrast between nature and industry. The exhibition included banners displayed across the unit’s windows, part of a larger collection of 30 banners originally created for The Embassy of Utopia at Manchester Central Library during the Greater Manchester Festival of Libraries in June 2024.

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Folklore and Live Brief Collaboration

Another highlight of the exhibition was student work created in response to the theme of folklore, developed through a live brief with writer David Hartley. These pieces spanned multiple creative disciplines, including fashion design and ceramics, demonstrating the diverse skills and artistic approaches of Pendleton students.

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A Hub for Aspiring Creatives

Pendleton Sixth Form College’s Creative Arts Department is home to over 400 students pursuing art and design courses. The majority are enrolled in Level 3 programs, either as part of an Extended Diploma or as part of an A-level pathway combining three separate subjects. The college offers four key study pathways—Fashion & Textiles, Graphic Design, Photography, and Art—each designed to prepare students for a wide range of careers within the creative industries.

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From architecture and graphic design to fashion photography and film production, the courses at Pendleton Sixth Form College pave the way for students to access over 300 creative career paths. The Level 2 Diploma in Art and Design serves as a bridging course for students who narrowly miss Level 3 entry criteria, while the Level 4 Foundation Diploma provides an essential stepping stone for those looking to secure a place at top creative degree programs across the UK.

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A Celebration of Emerging Talent

The creative arts exhibition at Salford Shopping City was a true celebration of student innovation and artistic exploration. By collaborating with professional artists, writers, and musicians, Pendleton students have produced inspiring and thought-provoking work that reflects their dedication and passion for the arts. The exhibition not only provided a platform for these young creatives to showcase their skills but also highlighted the college’s role in nurturing the next generation of artists, designers, and creators.