Museumaker – Weaving Light and Colour into Canterbury’s Beaney 07/02/11

Students at Canterbury College have presented a showcase of their work linked to a prestigious commission for Canterbury’s Beaney Art Museum and Library.

Artist Laura Thomas is creating a set of windows to be located between the historic building and new extension to the Beaney. Large panes of glass will incorporate Laura’s characteristic weavings. The commission is one of 16 in the national Museumaker programme funded by Arts Council England and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.

Laura Thomas was present, with project coordinator Neil Kelly, to see a dance performance. Sketchbooks and paintings by Fine Art students were on display alongside posters by second year students in BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design.

Ten Graphic Design students from Canterbury College had been shortlisted to develop ideas and a special award was given to David Doran, 17, from Hythe, for his poster showing strands of yarn around objects that will be found at the Beaney. Commendations were given to Faye Nicholls, 19 and Will Branton, 20 for their posters.

Also displayed in the Canterbury College showcase was artwork by pupils at Whitstable Community College and by people who attend the Umbrella Centre in Canterbury. Both groups were inspired by the work of Laura Thomas for the Beaney.

The Beaney Art Museum and Library is being delivered in partnership by Canterbury City Council and Kent County Council, with major grant aid from the Heritage Lottery Fund, SEEDA and Interreg European funding. The building is scheduled to reopen in 2012.

Museumaker is a national programme unlocking the creative potential of collections through imaginative interchanges between the heritage and contemporary craft sectors.

See more photos of the Museumaker 2011.