The IGNITE Festival of Creativity showcases student art from campus to community

Organisers have identified a number of locations for artwork to be displayed, along with other activities such as film screenings and live performances. These include the big screen at The Barcode, inside the Market Hall in Devonport and Ocean Studios at Royal William Yard, and in a number of shops in the city centre and within Drake Circus. And from June, artwork will be emblazoned on the sides of public transport thanks to the support of Citybus.

Professor Chris Bennewith, Interim Executive Dean, Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business at the University, said

“Thanks to IGNITE, the city has become the canvas and stage for our students to showcase their work, and their value, to prospective employers. We will be looking to grow and expand IGNITE in future years, with more and more partners coming on board as they see the potential of working with creative and cultural industry graduates to help stimulate innovation in their businesses, create connections with the Plymouth public and contribute to creating a vibrant and exciting city centre.”

The website, which currently has more than 400 students registered, has already created commercial opportunities for students and graduates. This has included Maple Green Property Development, which initially recruited a graduate to work on the branding for a new development – and then returned to hire two more.

“Creative skills aren’t just needed in the arts and media sectors,”

says Ian Hutchinson, Head of Development at Plymouth College of Art.

“That is the great value of the IGNITE platform; it’s a portal into the creative talent that can add value to a wide range of industries. It’s an incredibly efficient way of connecting people, whether as a means of generating employment or kick-starting community campaigns.”

The festival is being coordinated by a joint team from the University and Plymouth College of Art, with support from 7RE (who are coaching the team on developing their communication strategy), Atlas Graphics, Just Enough Brave and Altitude. As part of this, the team has also been fostering conversation across the city on the relationship between creativity and everyday lives, and has interviewed businesses, members of the public, and prominent figures such as Caroline Rush CEO of British Fashion Council.