Launchfest celebrates talents of emerging artists
The talents of student and graduate artists from the University of Lincoln’s School of Creative Arts (LSCA) will be displayed during the annual Launchfest, a celebration of art, dance, music, theatre, writing, film, media and performance.
Held at the Brayford Pool Campus and various locations until June 13 the festival will showcase the multidisciplinary range of creative work from professional artists, performers, and creatives – all made during their studies at the university. Visitors can experience exhibitions, music and dance, watch film screenings and contemporary theatre.
Events will include the student-curated Nebula Music Festival (May 16 - 17), a two-day programme of live music of genres for all tastes, and the annual LSCA Dance Showcase (May 15) from students, staff, and visiting guest artists in Lincoln Arts Centre (LAC).
First year students from the Drama, Theatre and Performance BA (Hons) degree will present their work on the LAC main stage for the first time, created under the direction of professional theatre performers, alongside third year students who have formed their own professional companies and will be presenting their work in a week of new theatre called BLOOM.
Katie Seller, third year Drama, Theatre and Performance BA (Hons) student and Sparky Sparky Boom theatre company member, commented: “We’re really excited to be involved in Launchfest 2025 and are looking forward to sharing what we have been working on. Our debut show uses theatre to ask questions about politics and provoke honest discussion about how we use our vote.”
Other new shows running will include a “whodunnit” set in a casino, a humorous journey through the afterlife, an imagined ritual to save an ecosystem under threat, and a retelling of the infamous 19th Century Chicago ‘Murder Castle Case’.
Planning for the LSCA Fine Art BA (Hons) degree show is also underway, and the University’s Project Space Plus Gallery will be opening its doors to the public on June 6 for the new exhibition Everything is Fine(Art) featuring the work of over 30 artists across the gallery and studio spaces. Entry is free.
Musical Theatre BA (Hons) students will showcase two new musicals as part of the festival, The Road by Sam Thomas, which follows the story of a former teen star whose life is unravelling, and Killing Time in Darkminster by Clare Packham and Fintan Kealy, set in a shadowy town at a strange choir school.
LAC will host Nickelodeon’s The SpongeBob Musical on June 6-7 and there’s theatre for the very young in Lucy and the Crow (May 24).
Professor Andrew Westerside, Head of the School of Creative said: “I’m incredibly proud to welcome audiences to our fourth annual Launchfest, our end-of-year showcase of work for students across the school. This year, we’ve welcomed new industry-facing courses in film, media, sound production, animation and the moving image into the school and I’m looking forward to seeing their work at the end of year screenings.”
“Every year I’m delighted by the high-quality, thoughtful and thought-provoking work that comes out of all our courses. The staff and students of the school bring such creativity, imagination and professionalism to what they do that I know audiences will be in for a wonderful experience, whichever events they choose to attend.”
For further information and full event listings see https://lncn.ac/launch25.