College art and design students explore freedom in exhibition

Burton and South Derbyshire College’s (BSDC) art and design students recently took part in an inspiring artistic collaboration with internationally acclaimed paper artist, Jennifer Collier, contributing to a powerful new exhibition titled Our Freedom: Then & Now at The Brewhouse Arts Centre.

Jennifer Collier, known for her intricate stitched paper sculptures and commitment to preserving heritage textile techniques, visited the students to share insights into her creative practice and life as a professional artist.

Her visit included a hands-on workshop that encouraged students to explore Burton’s rich brewing history through a unique artistic lens.

Together, they created handmade collaged and stitched beermats using archive images and maps, reflecting the town’s legacy and the vital role women played in its breweries during WWII. 

On the reverse of each beermat, students wrote personal reflections on what freedom means to them today, 80 years after the end of the Second World War.

The students’ work, stitched with vibrant neon threads and layered with meaning, has been incorporated into a commissioned installation by Jennifer Collier, on display at The Brewhouse until 30 November as part of the national Our Freedom: Then & Now programme led by Future Arts Centres.

The project draws inspiration from a poem by Simon Armitage and invites communities across the UK to reflect on freedom, past and present, through creative expression.

Selected works will also be exhibited at Burton Library, with photographic portraits by Jo Gane touring nationally in 2026.

Joanna Dawidowska, Art & Design Lecturer at Burton and South Derbyshire College said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity for our students to work alongside an artist of Jennifer’s calibre.

“The project not only allowed them to explore Burton’s heritage through creative techniques but also encouraged deep personal reflection on the theme of freedom.

“Seeing their work become part of a professional exhibition has been incredibly rewarding and inspiring for everyone involved.”