Immersed Festival wins University Alliance award

Immersed Festival – created by University of South Wales students – has won the Teaching Innovation category at this year’s University Alliance Awards.

Celebrating the hard work and dedication of individuals and teams from across the Alliance – of which USW is a member – the awards were held last night (Thursday 18 September) at the University of Hertfordshire, recognising outstanding contributions to professional and technical higher education.

Immersed is a multimedia festival of music, film, art, fashion, and performance, entirely curated by creative industries students. Now in its eighth year, Immersed is supported by Welsh Government initiative Creative Wales, and helps raise awareness for environmental charity Music Declares Emergency.

As well as hosting performances from more than 30 artists and bands across four stages, the event features an industry-leading skills development programme, sharing insights into the production processes behind the festival; a careers fair; film screenings; art installations; fringe gigs and an Immersed TV broadcast.

Lucy Squire, Head of Music and Drama at USW: “I’m incredibly proud of what we have been able to achieve with Immersed Festival over the last eight years. It integrates academic and industry collaboration, developing a wide range of transferable skills within the creative industries, while serving as a major interdisciplinary initiative across the university.

 “The festival fosters graduate attributes, strengthens partnerships with industry and the wider community, enhances employability, and aligns with our institutional goals of innovation and sustainability. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and creativity of the fantastic team of staff, students, and partners who make Immersed such a success.

 “To have this work recognised with the Teaching Innovation Award at the University Alliance Awards is absolutely wonderful."

Dr James Gravelle, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of USW, added: “Immersed Festival is an excellent example of all that we hope students will achieve at USW – collaborating with industry to apply the knowledge and skills acquired in their studies, and to take the lead in all elements of producing a live music festival.

“This innovative event has gone from strength to strength over the past seven years, quickly becoming a household name on the Cardiff music scene. Congratulations to the whole team – this award win is very well deserved.”