THE MACE

The Mace

The Mace is carried by a graduate of the University who leads the Vice-Chancellor and Academic Procession at the start of the ceremony. The Mace symbolises the authority and independence of the University and the authority it derives from the Privy Council to award degrees. This authority is vested in the Academic Board and the Governing Body of the University.

The Mace is the work of the eminent craftsman and designer, John Makepeace OBE, who is an Honorary Fellow of Arts University Bournemouth. The Mace is made from ripple sycamore and comprises of 80 leaves reaching up to a silver crown. It represents the growth and realisation of knowledge.

John Makepeace received the Prince Philip Designers Prize in 2016.

MA Commercial Photography graduate Aderopo Afolabi is a Creative Photographer whose images celebrate African fashion, encourage diversity, challenge appearance-based discrimination, and explore modern day Britain. An image from Aderopo’s photography series ‘Black Women and Afrocentric Fashion’ was selected Portrait of Britain 2023 award winner and printed on the front cover of Portrait of Britain Vol 5 Book, published by Hoxton Mini Press.

Aderopo says: ‘12 months on from my own graduation ceremony, I am honoured to be invited to this year’s graduation as macebearer to celebrate the next cohort of very highly talented creative graduates from Arts University Bournemouth.’

To view Aderopo’s portfolio visit: aderopoafolabi.com

To your family, friends and loved ones, we reach out and offer thanks too. Without your generous and unstinting support, our graduating students would not be here, gowned up, proud and ready to step into the world. Our community has eagerly looked forward to this long-awaited day, ready to share your excitement, to wish you all the best as you create your future and to remind you to stay in touch with us – through our alumni groups, through social media and through the networks that act as the creative glue binding AUB graduates together.

You leave AUB with extraordinary credentials, veterans of unprecedented challenges that few knew how to prepare for. It has not dented your creativity, your willingness to engage, to share, to learn and to grow.

You have undergone a unique kind of transformation during your time at our wonderful institution and now we rightfully celebrate. So, parents, families, guests and course mates, please do join me to raise a cheer to our esteemed students, who stand before us today as an inspiration to us all – confident, diligent, successful graduands and, henceforth, as cherished and admired AUB graduates.