Award-winning contemporary artists, The Singh Twins, have been honoured by the University of Wolverhampton for their contribution to diversity in the arts.
The Singh Twins, Amrit and Rabindra Singh, MBE, DFA, LittD were presented with Honorary Degrees of Doctor of Arts on Tuesday, 14 September 2021.
The awards were presented to the internationally renowned artists at a University of Wolverhampton graduation ceremony at Wolverhampton Grand Theatre.
Amrit and Rabindra said: “We’re delighted to be receiving this Honorary Doctorate in recognition of our contribution to British Contemporary art and, in particular, for promoting diversity in the arts. Because pushing the boundaries of how art, heritage and culture are defined and evaluated is something we are especially passionate about - not least because of the important role that the arts can play in challenging prejudice and racism in society.”
The Singh Twins are internationally renowned British artists, whose award-winning work - which challenges generally accepted Eurocentric perceptions of heritage and identity in art and society - was cited by Sir Simon Schama as “the artistic face of Britain”.
Their outstanding contribution to British art has been acknowledged at the highest level and features in the Oxford Encyclopaedia of Women in World History. Their most recent works include NHS v Covid: Fighting on Two Fronts, a tribute to the NHS created for their appearance as guest artists on Channel 4’s Grayson’s Art Club, and Get Your Knee Off Our Necks, which in response to the murder of George Floyd explores links between institutional racism today and America’s colonial history of slavery.
The University of Wolverhampton also presented an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration to Lord Ranger CBE at a graduation ceremony on Thursday 17 September 2021.
Lord Ranger said: “I am absolutely delighted to receive this honour from the prestigious University of Wolverhampton and from the Chancellor, Lord Paul of Marylebone. The great work of the university is recognised across the UK and internationally. The University symbolises diversity and multiculturalism at its best.”
Lord Ranger came to the UK with nothing and started his first company with £2 from a shed. Through hard work and business acumen, his company Sun Mark Ltd now exports British Fast Moving Consumer Goods to over 130 countries across the world and has won an unprecedented five consecutive Queen's Awards for Enterprise in International Trade. No other company in Britain has this accolade.
The University of Wolverhampton graduation ceremonies took place at the Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton from Thursday 9 September – Friday 17 September 2021.
The 17 ceremonies saw over 3,000 students who completed their studies in 2020 collect their awards.
It is the first time the University has held a graduation ceremony since December 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
