UWTSD Fine Art graduates create virtual welcome hub for new students

UWTSD Fine Art graduates Elisha Hughes and (Holly) Pixie Fear spent the summer using their creative skills and expertise to make sure new students would have a warm, virtual welcome ahead of the new academic year.

The initiative called RESTART was developed by the two students with the support of University intern bursaries. It enabled them to create an online community throughout the summer, so new students could meet and communicate together as well as chat to existing students.

Professor Sue Williams said: “We have a number of students this September who are coming to join us from as far afield as Europe and China and they needed to feel welcomed before the September rush. Covid-19 with all its disruptions has reinforced for us at Fine Art Swansea, how our sense of community is vital.

“RESTART has proven successful as the new students have now met each other online, they are meeting face to face, socially distanced and wearing masks where appropriate, this week and so their experience of an artistic community will continue for them and continue to benefit their future art practices and career goals.

“Elisha and Pixie rose to the challenges of lockdown over the summer and have proved to be excellent in curating and managing. I had been concerned that Covid19 would cause many of our new students to feel awash and uncertain so I gave Pixie and Elisha the challenge throughout the summer of creating a project that the new and present students could embrace and create, meet their peer groups online and feel they are part of the university before actually arriving

“A positive action within confusing times and I am very proud of how they have worked so hard to embrace this challenge without the face to face experience.”

Pixie said: “After graduating this summer, an opportunity arose regarding a summer project for the Fine Art students to participate in. The idea for RESTART was formed organically using the same processes instilled in us as undergraduates. Contextualisation is essential and documenting ideas is paramount.

“We have been able to pass on our knowledge from the course to current students, by offering one to one support throughout the summer, feedback sessions and creating creative dialogues between the group.

RESTART will be launched live online on Friday (Sept 25) at www.restartfineart.co.uk

Pixie added: “This is a show to be celebrated. Our previous studies at Swansea College of Art have enabled us to grow more confident through public speaking, refine our work during critiques and establish legitimate grounds for research into any chosen field. We are eager to see how the students develop during their time at University and can clearly see RESTART being a pivotal moment in their artistic journey moving forward.”

Further Information

Rebecca Davies

Swyddog Gweithredol Cysylltiadau â’r Wasg a’r Cyfryngau

Executive Press and Media Relations Officer

Cyfathrebu Corfforaethol a Chysylltiadau Cyhoeddus

Corporate Communications and PR

Tel: 01792 483695

Mobile: 07384 467071

Email: Rebecca.Davies@uwtsd.ac.uk