As the year draws to a close, we look back on a dynamic twelve months across Aesthetica’s platforms, celebrating creativity in all its forms. From the Aesthetica Art Prize and Film Festival to the New Music Stage, Aesthetica Future Now Expo and the pages of Aesthetica Magazine, 2025 has been defined by bold ideas, emerging talent and ambitious work that responds to the world around us. Together, these highlights reflect our ongoing commitment to championing innovation across art, film, music and design, while creating space for new voices shaping the future of contemporary culture.
The 2025 Aesthetica Art Prize brought together 25 shortlisted artists, whose works span painting, drawing, video, installation, performance, photography, digital art and film. Together, the practitioners represent a cross-section of contemporary practice, producing art that relentlessly confront the advancement of technology, the existential realities of climate change, the deep scars of colonialism and the ongoing fight for gender equality and racial justice. This year’s Main Prize winner was Tobi Onabolu, an artist-filmmaker and writer from London, now based in Benin Republic. His winning film, Danse Macabre, explores spirituality, mental health and the human psyche. The Emerging Prize was awarded to Sam Metz for Porosity, a sculptural installation shaped by lived experience as a neurodivergent artist.
The 15th edition of the BAFTA-Qualifying Film Festival was the biggest yet. We delivered a five-day showcase of storytelling, performance and innovation that resonates across the UK and internationally. The festival brings together film, music, virtual reality, games, podcasts and live performance, creating a multidisciplinary platform where emerging and established talent, audiences and industry professionals connect, collaborate and shape the future of creative arts. This year, we launched the first-ever UK Film Production Summit, a landmark industry event, welcoming over 150 leading production companies, commissioners and investors. Mark Herbert, CEO of Warp Films (Adolescence, This is England, Four Lions, Tyrannosaur), shared insight on producing internationally acclaimed films and nurturing new talent.
In 2025, we brought a music festival to the film festival. The New Music Stage, presented collaboration with TALENTBANQ, Caffè Nero, and Imagesound, was a bold competition showcasing 10 breakthrough acts at York Theatre Royal. The line-up spanned transcendent vocals, razor-sharp rap, retro-pop anthems, and art-pop experimentation – highlighting artists destined for bigger stages. The event gave audiences all-day access to live performances, new sounds and unforgettable moments. Dilettante was announced as the winner, capping off a brilliant day of music and discovery. The singer delivered a set that captivated both audience and jury with emotive vocals, reflecting that “The New Music Stage reminded me why live music matters. It’s about sharing something unexpected in real time and connecting with people.”
UNESCO Expo
The UNESCO City of Media Arts EXPO was a unique opportunity to celebrate York as a designated Creative City, but the reach goes beyond and we worked with more creative businesses across the region. This prestigious recognition makes York one of only 26 cities worldwide, and the only one in the UK, to hold this status. The event was entirely free and open to everyone, offering the chance to meet and engage with 40 creative businesses from the region that are making an impact both nationally and internationally. The EXPO highlighted the diverse talents and innovation thriving in the region, showcasing creative businesses that are shaping the future of media arts. This was a platform for residents, visitors and creative professionals to connect, collaborate, and learn about the vibrant creative industries.
This year has brought six outstanding issues of Aesthetica Magazine, each one filled with today’s most exciting contemporary photographers, artists and designers. Throughout the year, we’ve dug into the big topics that are shaping the creative industries today, and spoken to those driving innovation forward – Ryoji Ikeda, Squidsoup, Felicity Hammond, Brooke DiDonato. We’ve also spotlighted photographers whose work speaks to our contemporary moment, from landscape images that draw attention to the fragility of our natural world to portraits that consider body image and gender roles. Together, these features reflect a creative landscape that is both critically engaged and visually daring. As we look ahead, we remain committed to championing new voices that challenge, inspire and redefine the future of visual culture.
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