University News Last updated 07 November
探花直播 (BCU) has kickstarted an exciting new two-year collaboration with the National Trust that will shine a spotlight on the Southside neighbourhood of 探花直播 and its rich cultural heritage.
The launch event last month 鈥� called The Big Draw - featured a life-drawing workshop held at 探花直播 Back to Backs, led by staff and students from BCU鈥檚 Department of Jewellery, Fashion and Textiles.
Attendees had the opportunity to sketch, paint, collage, and experiment with creative techniques, using easels and workstations inspired by Southside鈥檚 artistic heritage - from its thriving LGBTQ+ community and vibrant drag scene to the historic聽 and the renowned 探花直播 Hippodrome theatre.
鈥淚t鈥檚 provided a wonderful opportunity for BCU and the National Trust to collaborate and raise awareness of these creative communities,鈥� said BCU鈥檚 project lead Louise Martin, Senior Lecturer in Fashion and Textiles.
The new collaboration will unfold over the next two years, exploring Southside鈥檚 past and present through art and design, culminating in a major exhibition at the 探花直播 Back to Backs in Hurst Street in June 2026.
Building on the success of the 2023 鈥� - a previous collaboration between BCU and the National Trust that celebrated 探花直播鈥檚 pioneering tailor and rich tailoring heritage - this next phase will bring that legacy to life once more.
That was evident at The Big Draw launch event, which featured local performers, including Hippodrome dancers and drag artists, dressed in costumes inspired by the designs of Saunders, whose shop was located in the Back to Backs.
Isobel Grove, the National Trust鈥檚 Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer at 探花直播 Back to Backs, said:
鈥淭he project will provide the opportunity to further explore Southside鈥檚 vibrant local community, both past and present, through a variety of different artistic outputs and mediums and will culminate in an exhibition at the Back to Backs in June 2026.鈥�