Solent students help to enhance accessibility to public art

Supported by a £26,000 grant from Arts Council England, Solent is supporting the digitisation of around 1,000 artworks which are not able to be frequently displayed due to light sensitivity. Now, thanks to this project, the works will be available to view online, ensuring everyone with an interest in art can engage with it.

Solent, which has been an integral part of Southampton's history and culture - beginning in 1855 with the Southampton School of Art - will support two students to take part in this project. The students, who are currently studying in the Department of Art and Music, will be hired as paid interns and gain hands-on experience of digitising art archives. During the project, they will also have direct insight into the inner workings of an art gallery, giving them a strong foundation for success in their future careers.

Professor James Knowles, Solent University's Vice-Chancellor, says:

"Art has a profound impact on communities, and projects like this one are essential in ensuring everyone has access to public art. I am therefore delighted that Solent is partnering with Southampton City Art Gallery to bring art to our communities and give our students meaningful work experience which reinforced their connection to the city and its history."

Solent is passionate when it comes to championing creative pursuits. In the 2023/24 academic year, the University launched a national fine art and photography competition which received almost 200 submissions. Alongside this, the city's communities are annually invited to view artworks created by second-year BA (Hons) Fine Art undergraduates at a public exhibition in Southampton Guildhall.

Southampton City Art Gallery's digitisation programme will begin in early 2025 and be completed in early 2026. The Gallery is currently undergoing an exciting refurbishment, which will be unveiled around the same time.

This project aligns closely with the University's work-ready, world-ready, future-ready ethos, which prioritises practical learning and teaching opportunities. In this way, graduates leave Solent equipped with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed both professionally and personally.