We are thrilled to have Coventry University on board The Big Draw bus as Sponsor Partners for this year's Festival, A Climate of Change! We caught up with Lindsey from Coventry University to find out a little more about the University, their Big Draw events, and her thoughts on visual literacy, happy accidents and the power of drawing...

Interview: Matilda Barratt in conversation with Lindsey Chambers.

Could you start by telling us a bit about Coventry University, its history and your work there?

Coventry University roots started as Coventry College of Design in 1843. It was in 1970 that Coventry College of Art amalgamated with Lanchester College of Technology that then subsequently became Coventry University. The School of Art and Design has a rich and broad history as creative educators from Fine Art Painting to Automotive Transport Design. Drawing and Storytelling is at the heart of what we do here in the school….from Fashion, Animation to Product Design!  I work as an Associate Head of School in Art and Design I work in recruitment but more broadly in community engagement. I try to ensure that the value of the Arts at Coventry University is pushed out externally to schools, special interested groups and community groups

What role do you think that Universities should be playing in the access to arts and creative learning? Why do you think the next generation of makers and creators are so important?

I think that all art and design institutions should be lifting people up into Arts education through being very externally facing with its work. Whilst Coventry University is very global in its citizenship and outlook we are very grounded in the community and one of the most rewarding parts of my role is working with local schools and communities. I think creators and makers don’t work to a zero sum rule, there is no right answer, it’s what is right for now. This creates students that have to be agile, problem solvers, excellent communicators, have empathy and negotiating skills. Basically emotionally intelligent graduates, no matter what their discipline these skills are highly prized in Industry.

Could you share your thoughts on the role of visual literacy across multiple disciplines and sectors?

I think visual intelligence sits behind all education, like kindness really, it has a quiet presence that some people see and some don’t. Visual literacy is communication and this really transcends all subject areas and sectors. I think over the last 6 months there has been a greater appreciation of the arts through people exploring creativity. We run ‘art’ sessions for disadvantaged young adults here in the School of Art and Design, it’s never really about encouraging them to take up a career in the Arts, its more allowing people to ‘feel’ a way into seeing the world around them in a different way. Having a voice without saying anything.

Do you draw? What role does drawing play in your life and your work at Coventry University?

YES, all the time! My background is textile design and I am an embroiderer by trade. I very often don’t have time to stitch and embellish, but I always have time to draw. I am fascinated by early female botanical artists such as Marianne North, Mary Delaney and Maria Sibylla Merian, and their determination to forge their own paths. So anything about foliage, blooms and growth and I’m all over it! Graphite sticks, acrylic inks, parallel pens are my default playing around tools…..and children’s paint sticks are my new favourite thing! Children’s art stuff is for adults too! I co-lead our cross school drawing festival, a city of culture project about drawing and lots of outreach creative sessions about bring people together through drawing…it feeds into everything I do!

This year’s Big Draw Festival theme, ‘The Big Green Draw: A Climate of Change’, focuses on the relationship between people and our living environments and ecosystems, encouraging drawing as a means of positive activism. How does this resonate with Coventry University, and why do you think it’s important?

Coventry is a city of constant change and growth, its hardiness in adversity makes it an extraordinary place. Its Industrial roots and redevelopment after the 2nd world war makes it a perfect place to reveal its hidden historical gems and involve people in reengaging with its living environment. Alongside its brutalist architecture belies amazing green spaces and moving forward its intention to reveal the River Sherbourne, it feels like The Big Draw has written this year’s brief for us! 

Do you believe in such a thing as a ‘happy accident’, and the power to learn or develop from our mistakes?

I think that’s all we ever do as artists and designers, learn from a series of mischances and create them into opportunities. If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t trying anything new. True creatives are passionately curious and are magpies of information that can feed into their craft. Mistakes feed this knowledge base perhaps even more than successes, so really we should embrace getting ‘things’ wrong - it’s how we grow!

What motivated Coventry University to take part in The Big Draw Festival, and what do you hope to achieve?

We have wanted to for a couple of years, but the time hasn’t been right, leading up to City of Culture and other community drawing projects we have undertaken it just seemed the right time this year!

Obviously as with many things this year, it isnt quite what we thought it was going to be! But we have delivered so much teaching online with our students and outreach work and we really enjoy working with people within their homes with what’s to hand, it’s an exciting way to work. So immediate and rewarding. Underneath the heart of the city snakes the River Sherbourne. The ancient river has supported Coventry inhabitants since Anglo-Saxon times and because of it, becoming a centre of industry. Currently it’s hidden under the city and polluted. We want to raise awareness of the River and the work that The Wildlife trust is doing to reveal the river throughout parts of the city.

Finally, could you tell us a little about what’s in store for this year’s Big Draw Festival at Coventry University?

The best thing about The Big Draw is its ability to bring people together to co-create art works. I took my mother and daughter to the Midland Art Centre last year for the Big Draw, it was such a wonderful experience just sharing a creative space that you didn’t feel pressured into creating instead peaceably doodle, it was an amazing atmosphere. We can’t do something like that this year. But we can get everyone’s work together virtually! We are working with our students to animate all the work that everyone will do with us so we will repopulate the River Sherbourne full of the fantastical wildlife and imagined creatures that is created in our sessions. We are really excited to bring the sessions literally to life! ☺ 

Thank you Lindsey!

If you were inspired by this interview with Lindsey and would like to find out more about Coventry University, head to their website here. 

Registrations are now open for The Big Draw Festival 2020: A Climate of Change! Find out more about the benefits of becoming an organiser here and other ways to support The Big Draw's mission here.