Motorpoint Arena Nottingham teamed up with Nottingham Trent University’s Nottingham School of Art & Design to launch a unique creative competition, celebrating rising local artists while creating a bespoke gift for legendary British band James for their performance on Tuesday 14 April 2026.
Inspired by frontman Tim Booth’s passion for movement, mindfulness and expressive art, students were invited to submit abstract, movement-led concepts reflecting the energy and emotion of live music. The brief encouraged entrants to explore the intersection of sound and visual expression, mirroring the band’s dynamic performances.
The winning entry, Anthems for Humanity, was created by MA Illustration student Ro Williams. The piece was presented to the band as a one-of-a-kind artwork, capturing the spirit of their music through bold, expressive techniques.
Ro Williams said:
“For this piece I immersed myself in the band’s music and translated this into a range of visual mark making, a response using paint, pastels and charcoal working on canvas and paper. The work then developed digitally. I’m hoping the piece evokes a sense of the band’s music in a live setting.”
Reflecting on the local inspiration behind the work, Williams added:
“I see Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena as a vessel that contains the musical experience of the city’s live shows. I liked the idea of viewing the arena from above, looking down and marvelling at the energy created by the band’s performance using the arena footprint to create the vessel shape.”
As part of the prize, Williams received hospitality tickets for the show to enjoy with her husband, alongside official merchandise and credit for the artwork – offering valuable exposure at a major live event.
Hollie Marron, Arena Programming Manger at Motorpoint Arena Nottingham, said:
“We’re proud to partner with NTU to spotlight our city’s creative talent. This competition gave students a unique platform to engage with world-class artists while allowing us to present the band with a truly personal gift. Supporting local creators is vital to us, and this initiative perfectly underscores our commitment to grassroots creativity providing young artists with major opportunities while offering visiting acts a uniquely local welcome to Nottingham.”
The evening was defined by an electric atmosphere and incredible energy from the crowd. James delivered a captivating, high-energy performance that filled the arena, marking a standout moment for live music in the city this year.
The Motorpoint Arena schedule remains busy with a variety of upcoming events. Fans can look forward to a diverse range of shows, including performances from Rick Astley, The Prodigy, and Lily Allen, alongside the 2026 EIHL Playoff Finals Weekend and The Pussycat Dolls.
Check out what’s coming up at the arena here: www.motorpointarenanottingham.com
Posted on 20 April 2026
