Mural goes on display at new Daventry campus

Businesses, VIPs, students, staff and local artists are being invited to put their own stamp on the new multi-million pound Daventry Campus, as plans for a giant commemorative mural take shape.

The mural, which will be made up of hundreds of individually designed tiles, will be in development at the official launch of Northampton College’s new Daventry Campus on Tuesday, February 7.

The campus is the result of significant investment as part pf SEMLEP's Local Growth Deal settlement. 

College staff and students have already been designing their own tiles and guests at the launch event will be invited to get creative and play their part in the giant mural, which will take centre stage inside the new campus’ reception.

Sam Cope, Photography tutor and Visual Arts Technician, said: “Our students are already hard at work getting creative and we would love our guests and VIPs to also get involved. You don’t need to be a skilled artist or sculptor, everyone is simply free to create something that will become part of the College for many years to come.”

As part of their project called ‘Surfaces’ art and design students have been getting ready for the launch event by creating colourful tiles that incorporate different techniques and materials such as string, clay tools and bubble-wrap to create indents into the clay with different textures and feels.

Liam Robertson, 17, Level 2 Art and Design, said: “I am proud to have my work on display because for me being an artist is really about showing others what you see, and transposing that onto a canvas or in this case a tile. I definitely think the new building is more spacious and impressive and as a result everyone feels more mature and the vibe is more sophisticated.”

Facilities at the new campus include industry-standard workshops for motor vehicle engineering, state of the art library facilities, contemporary hairdressing and beauty therapy salons, ICT and Mac suites, teaching space for healthcare and childcare plus dedicated provision for students with learning difficulties and disabiliti

The new campus is also home to a new Digital Academy, teaching students software and coding, web development, games design and social media.

The Daventry Campus Open Event on 7^th February is from 3.30pm to 6pm and is open to the whole community.

Pat Brennan-Barrett, Principal, said: "This is the start of a new chapter for Daventry. There is no need to leave Daventry for post 16 education – it is now right here on your doorstep.”