Surviving your first week at uni. A guide for fresh meat.

Hello to any new readers and congratulations on getting a place at MMU! We are Molly and Chloe and we graduated in 2016. We've put together this blog as a bit of a helpline for current students, sharing our experiences both at uni and since we've left, hopefully to pass on some of our (hard-earned!!) knowledge to make life a bit easier for you all.

This post will introduce those of you who are new to Manchester to places that you can visit for inspiration, and Facebook pages that you can like to stay up to date with exhibitions etc that are going on in and around the city as well as some tips for your first few weeks.

The Whitworth Art Gallery

Things to see / follow (yes, these are free- save up that booze money!)
The Whitworth
Manchester Art Gallery
Castlefield Gallery
AIR Gallery
Sloe Gallery
Paper Gallery
Rogue Artist Studios
Tate Liverpool obviously not in Manchester but still a great place, and so close!!
GK Gallery
The Lowry
Salford Art Gallery
Caustic Coastal
Hot Bed Press
Manchester Craft and Design Centre
Creative Manchester Students
Pattern Mash
Print and Pattern blog

Sloe Gallery

Things to go and do
Piss Pots
Colouring club
Over Drawn at Deaf Institute
Over Drawn at Ancoats General Store
Home
Gallery of costume

Home

Places to shop
Fred Aldous
Oklahoma
Cass Art
Abakhan Fabrics

Oklahoma 

Also worth a look is UK Young Artists. They aren't based in Manchester but they do post loads of opportunities and exciting things!


                                  ------------------------- A bit of advice------------------

• Go to things (lectures, talks, seminars, group tutorials, it really makes a difference) ... we know it's difficult when you're hungover and you only got up ten minutes ago, but it will be worth it in the long run
• Share equipment and materials where you can, it makes it cheaper and more efficient... who really needs a litre of emulsion?!
• Try everything at least once, including (especially) the cakes in the art school cafe
• Support each other!! share those teabags- sometimes all you need is five minutes and a chat
• Do not(!!!!) leave your USB in the computers. But in case you do, name it as your mobile number so whoever finds it can let you know.
• Explore the city. Find exciting things and let each other know. Manchester is full of surprises, especially the Northern Quarter
• Make and use 'professional' twitter and instagram accounts. Follow interesting/inspirational people, get your work seen! Follow us and we'll follow you back! (twitter: @chloebeecham and @newport_molly, instagram: @chloebeechamtextiles and @molly_newport)
• Manage your money... don't spend all your student loan on vodka in the first week. You won't have any food and it will not be fun. 
• Tea breaks. Regularly. 
• Spend time in the studio. Get to know the building and people on your course (and other people who know the space). 
• Sweet talk the printers, they like to be difficult little shits at inconvenient times.
• There will be exhibitions on at uni. There will be free wine. Take advantage of free wine. 
• Join a society.
• Get yourself a loyalty card for The Footage (pub across from the art school). This is the place to go and drink at 11am after a deadline. You will spend lots of time here. 
• Have fun. Enjoy yourself, work hard and be safe.

Please comment if you find anything interesting! or anything you want to add.

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