Supported Projects
Green Minds
Green Minds is a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme funded project that aims to plan and manage the green spaces of Plymouth.
<p>Arts University Plymouth is one of the key partners of <a href="https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/plymouth">Green Minds</a>, a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme funded project that aims to plan and manage the green spaces of Plymouth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth is a key delivery partner of <a href="https://www.uia-initiative.eu/en/uia-cities/plymouth">Green Minds</a>, a European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) programme funded project. In 2019, led by <a href="https://www.plymouth.gov.uk/green-minds" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Plymouth City Council</a>, the Green Minds partnership secured €3.9million of European Regional Development Fund funding for Urban Innovative Actions on the theme of sustainable land management. The project is led by Plymouth City Council and the delivery partners are Arts University Plymouth, Devon Wildlife Trust, The National Trust, The Data Place, Real Ideas, and University of Plymouth.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Plymouth is one of the most unique and diverse natural environments of any city in the country with over 30 per cent of the city designated as green space. Arts University Plymouth works with students, artists and communities to engage the public in innovative and imaginative ways; bringing nature alive through innovation and imagination.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth students are engaged in the Green Minds project both through curriculum projects, responding to live briefs from the Green Minds and other community partners, and through commissioned work. In the 2021-2022 academic year Arts University Plymouth delivered 14 Green Minds projects through which 411 Arts University Plymouth students have participated and contributed through approx 9800 hours of student work. As a result over 100 artworks were presented, from finished and publicly viewed installations to design proposals and experimental course work. <br /></p>
BA (Hons) Illustration students at Saltram House, Plymouth
<p dir="ltr">Examples of Green Minds projects:</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth’s students have been involved in delivering the project since the very first partnership meeting. BA (Hons) Illustration students Abigail Bicknell and Elizabeth Styles attended the first Green Minds partnership meeting and took illustrated notes. These illustrations serve as visual representations of the project, interpreting the ambition and vision for the Green Minds project<strong>. </strong>Arts University Plymouth Students from BA (Hons) Graphic Communication course worked with lecturer Amanda Duffin to develop the brand identity and <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/plymouth-college-of-art-helps-create-sustainable-natural-spaces-across">vision for Green Minds</a>; creating assets such as brand guidelines, logos, letterheads, banners and other resources like motion graphics and social media designs.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Arts University Plymouth students worked with Creative Producer Rachel Dobbs and the Village Hub as part of a project focusing on community co-creation. As a result <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/stoke-community-celebrates-nature-in-blockhouse-park">three arts commissions</a> were awarded to Arts University Plymouth students:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Lily Bex, collaborated with community members to create an animation called <em>Past, Present, Future: Blockhouse Park. </em>The film featured a combination of real life and animated footage, with quotes from local community members about the park, and a poem read by one of the local contributors. The film was screened at an open air event in the park.</p></li></ul><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">Rebecca Smith’s <em>Nature Play </em>project engaged young students and their parents in a series of Forest School art workshops exploring nature in Blockhouse park.</p></li></ul><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">During Tressa Thomas and Maia Walters <em>Clay Play </em>ceramic workshops, community members created clay imprints of plants they have gathered from the park; these plaques are installed in Blockhouse park as a piece of public art.</p></li></ul><p dir="ltr">This work was part of a <a href="https://youtu.be/W0Ixojl6kXU">suite of creative commissions</a> co-designed by Arts University Plymouth for Green Minds. To find out more about this exciting work you can <a href="https://youtu.be/W0Ixojl6kXU">watch the film</a> or read the <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lGzSkHZrtyrWBMS2kU2IpPrg4wwB4Mnw/view?usp=share_link">evaluation report</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">For more information about Arts University Plymouth’s ’s participation in Green Minds check out our <a href="https://youtu.be/Iso9i9x0mW8">Youtube video</a>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Other Projects:</p><ul><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/illustration-students-support-nature-recovery-at-national-trust-saltram">Illustration students at Saltram House</a>, Plymouth</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr">BA (Hons) <a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/craft-students-create-nature-sculptures-for-poole-farm">Craft & Materials at Derriford Community Park’s</a> Poole Farm</p></li><li dir="ltr"><p dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.aup.ac.uk/posts/artist-tom-milnes-rewilds-plymouth-hoe-in-ashnihilation">Ashnihilation</a> - a Arts University Plymouth Creative Technology collaboration</p></li></ul>