Contemporary art collaboration at Condor

A new contemporary arts project by students at the University of Derby is open this week at Grainger plc’s residential scheme, The Condor.

A collection of 25 first-year fine art students, will curate and showcase an eclectic display of art ranging from live performance, sculpture, drawing, paintings, soundscapes and video projections until Friday 17th November at Derby’s first Build To Rent scheme.

The project, titled “Extended Contexts”, explores responses to a brief which encourages the use of technical media to create site specific artworks.

Caroline Locke, associate professor of Interdisciplinary Art at the University of Derby explains: “By bringing the students directly into the city centre and working at The Condor, we hope to offer our students a unique experience.

“The project will provide the students with transferable skills which they will really value as they learn what it takes to make ambitious artworks in an unusual setting”.

“The Condor is an impressive building. The commercial space we will be using for the project serves as an ambitious challenge for our students in terms of staging their first site specific works.

“With an industrial feel, high ceilings and exposed walls, it is an impressive space. It’s the perfect opportunity to introduce our young artists to new processes, exploring the set-up of a pop-up gallery, away from the University campus.”

Sean Bromley, resident services manager at The Condor said: “As part of our commitment to develop a thriving new community here, we are very pleased to host this University of Derby arts project at The Condor.

“We hope this is a fulfilling opportunity for the students involved and look forward to welcoming the city’s next generation of talent in the fine arts.”

The collaboration was supported by local commercial agents, Rigby & Co. Managing Director, Russell Rigby said: “We tried hard 12 months ago to help Caroline and her talented team find an appropriate venue, and I was so pleased that we were able to bring Grainger and the University together at The Condor.”