A SHOWCASE of work by Coventry artists produced during lockdown will launch online next week (October 5).
The digital exhibition, Coventry Creates, will show the work of 18 local artists who worked in collaboration with researchers from Coventry University and the University of Warwick, as part of a commissioned project funded by the two institutions. The public will be able to view the works from 12 noon on Monday 5 October at coventrycreates.co.uk
Curators said: “The Coventry Creates project provided up to £2,000 of funding to the chosen artists who produced work in response to pieces of academic research, enabling them to continue their work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The 18 projects were selected from almost 100 applications and include a variety of art forms such as music, dance, spoken word, textiles, film and theatre.
“During the summer the artists have enjoyed a period of collaboration with researchers from across the social sciences, arts, science and medicine from both the city’s universities and have produced final work for a digital exhibition, which launches to the public on October 5.
“After the exhibition the selected works will be kept in the Coventry City of Culture Digital Archive and a physical exhibition as part of Coventry City of Culture is being planned for 2021.”
Professor Jackie Hodgson, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Warwick, said: “We are tremendously excited about the work these talented Coventry artists have produced under the strange and difficult circumstances the pandemic presented to us all.
“We are proud that the city of Coventry’s two academic institutions could help fund and bring to fruition these important works, in the run up to City of Culture 2021 and we are looking forward to the continued relationship between the two universities and aligning our efforts to conduct research that benefits local communities – through 2021 and beyond.
“We are thrilled to be launching this online exhibition of Coventry Creates. It is an innovative programme of work that, through the local creative sector, will bring research to fresh audiences in new and interesting ways.”
Peta Murphy, Associate Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Coventry University, said: “Coventry Creates is a unique opportunity to showcase digital artworks created during the pandemic. The collaborative approach from both universities as co-commissioners to the pairing of artists and researchers has resulted in extraordinary artworks which resonate with our current situation. The artists and researchers have really appreciated each other’s practice and found new ways of expressing research outcomes. It has been brilliant to be part of this project, the showcase is really inspiring!”
Artists involved in the project have focused on issues such as mental health, differing identities and care workers during the pandemic.
