University of Warwick: 60 Years of Arts and Culture
Universities bring together a multitude of people, ideas, and of course plenty of creative thinking. So, when it comes to inspiring the student and local community, what could be more vital than a central creative touchstone?
Inspiring students through arts & culture
Positioned on the doorstep of campus, the Arts Centre emphasises the warm welcome Warwick offers as well as embodying the University’s creative heart.
As that heart, the Arts Centre’s effects can be felt across campus from the creative opportunities provided to students, and through the over 1000 artworks from the University of Warwick Art Collection.
You can find these artworks inside, but also outside where they form the impressive Sculpture Park that spans the University’s grounds.
“Art brightens any situation and makes any place richer, full of stories and ideas, and it feels like an immense privilege to have so much of it here for everyone at the University to enjoy and find meaning in,” says undergraduate student Milo.
“The display of works from the Collection even enhances education, with curatorial decisions made not only on an aesthetic basis, but also relating to the departmental buildings that pieces are displayed in.”
Connecting the University of Warwick to the local community through creativity
One of the key aspects of Warwick Arts Centre is its ability to establish belonging and creative empowerment in the local community. Our dedicated Creative Learning team organises a myriad of free creative sessions ran in conjunction with local artists to support this welcoming atmosphere.
These tackle art styles from music to performance to craft and provide inspiration and excitement for visitors. Not only do these sessions create an outlet for self-expression, they also create a space where people can build new friendships.
In the last year, an astounding 330 artist-led creative sessions enjoyed by 12,402 people were delivered both onsite at the Arts Centre and offsite in the community.
Warwick Arts Centre also champions local creative initiatives through commissions and events. The Canley Parade, Playing Out in Canley, is a wonderful highlight among these fantastic events.
With support from Warwick Arts Centre, it has brought the community of Canley together annually since 2021 in a spectacular summertime celebration.
Forming a creative hub in the midlands
From its collection, gallery space, and Sculpture Park, Warwick Arts Centre makes the University of Warwick an unforgettable creative destination in the midlands. The Mead Gallery, located just off the main Foyer space in the Arts Centre, provides visitors freely with a conveyor of awe-inspiring exhibitions featuring artists from across the globe.
One of our recent exhibitions, The Future is Today, explored the past six decades through prints. At its core was a special commissioned work from Ben Sanderson, an artist who grew up in Coventry and whose piece revolves around memory.
Sarah Shalgosky, Principal Curator, says that both the gallery and the Arts Centre offer “a place where ideas are shared with audiences”, and that the gallery is “not just a single echo chamber but a space for curiosity and conversations and thinking about things in different contexts and from different viewpoints.”
As our exhibitions are often paired with immersive workshops and talks, these viewpoints are explored in conversation and give a unique opportunity to help people connect with what’s on the walls.
Making campus a musical destination
The University of Warwick’s campus has become a hub for musical excellence through the fantastic facilities and support offered here at Warwick Arts Centre. This is a place that has a history of platforming popular talent as well as offering amazing opportunities to the local and student community.
Chris Mapp, Head of Music, says that “being a part of the Arts Centre means that students have access to world-class venues which have played host to hundreds of concerts of all shapes and sizes across our long history.” With over twenty ensembles, opportunities to learn from professionals, and musical scholarships and bursaries available, there’s a multitude of ways that students can weave music into their lives with the Music Centre’s support.
Uplifting local artists
Similarly, Warwick Arts Centre provides an important spotlight on local talent alongside renowned creators across performance and the arts.
This mission can be seen through initiatives including a range of commissions and collaborations. These include Coventry-based dance organisation, Ascension Dance , local artists including Art Riot Collective, and also PLATFORM, which helps students to stage their ideas in our world-class venue, celebrating their creative thinking and experimentation.
These collaborations have had a huge impact on featured artists and fostered excitement in everyone participating. For example, in the 2023-24 run of PLATFORM, not only did the Arts Centre feature six superb student led activities, those activities were also reached and enjoyed by 225 people.
This emphasis on co-creation is what makes Warwick Arts Centre such a unique and special place. It honours the creativity of audiences and communities and unites them in a welcoming and prestigious venue nestled in the cutting-edge of academic excellence.
Curating outstanding cinema
Of course, we come for the thrills, tears, laughter, and love – but our cinema isn’t just about entertainment, it’s also a comfy environment where our community can relax together and year-round in one of our three screens.
Our Film Club provides a special opportunity for interconnection between movie-lovers through offering special events and filmmaker Q&As to raise excitement and start conversations. Plus, our venue is a champion of foreign films and film festivals.
These bring unique titles to the region, which speak to our diverse community and celebrate excellent global cinema.
Warwick Arts Centre has had an undeniably huge impact on the University of Warwick over the past decades. The creative pulse it sends through campus welcomes our entire community under the banner of the arts, fostering connection through this shared passion. It is a place that has brought countless opportunities to students, artists, and community members, including exciting internship opportunities that uplift careers in the arts.
As a vital creative touchstone here in Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre is delighted to see the University of Warwick celebrate 60 years and strives to continue creating unforgettable experiences for many years to come.
As the University continues to go forward and further, Warwick Arts Centre continues to be a place that unites this community through a shared love of the arts.
Find out how you can support us
Your donations and support will help us to bring people together and open our doors wider than ever before.