COLLEGE STUDENTS SET TO SHOWCASE LIFE OF GEORGE ELIOT

Two journalism students from North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College are set to bring to life the story of George Eliot as part of an interactive project at Nuneaton Library. Through the ‘Exploring Eliot’ project students will introduce the author’s work to new audiences using creative media such as animation and comic strips.

The students, Georgia King from Atherstone and Sadie Wootton from Leicester, will be effectively working as freelancers, developing creative material for an online showcase due to be launched in May 2021, linking to the Coventry City of Culture celebrations. They are free to use film, graphic art and design, photography, and animation to respond to the brief.

Project officer Natalie Heidaripour contacted the college to offer the students this unique placement opportunity within the project which is being run by Warwickshire County Council, Nuneaton & Bedworth Borough Council and The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum in Coventry. The library placement is set up on a remote basis to respect social distancing guidelines.

 Natalie said, “We are particularly keen to engage young people in the life of George Eliot as we believe that many of her views and perspectives will resonate with them in the 21^st century. We plan to use technology to focus on Eliot’s childhood in Warwickshire and are aiming to create an interactive and engaging experience.

“It seemed to make sense to approach NWSLC to offer their creative students this opportunity to develop their skills and also benefit from the experience of working alongside professional designers on an active brief with real deadlines.”

Dawn Helsby, student employability manager at NWSLC said, “We’re grateful to Nuneaton Library for enabling our students to access some interesting and rewarding work experience. Work placements are an important part of study programmes at the college for students aged 16-18. Placements are based on meaningful projects that can take many months, which helps students to gain the maximum benefit and enables organisations to get the most out of their skills. We are always looking for workplace opportunities for our students so if anyone would like some help, please get in touch via ip@nwslc.ac.uk.