University staff and students are among the contributors to Portsmouth Creates’ first colouring book. 3,000 are being distributed with food parcels by local charities to families in need or to domestic shelters, food banks, children's hospitals and adult day centres for special needs.
Seven University staff and student artists have donated illustrations to the #CreateUpPompey colouring book, which aims to provide a positive outlet and a colourful community response during coronavirus lockdown.
The colouring book has been included with free art packs along with colouring pencils and a sharpener, which have been distributed with food parcels around the city by Hive, Portsmouth City Council and the International Red Cross. They have also been sent to the children’s wards of Queen Alexandra Hospital, foodbanks, women's refuges (via Portsmouth's 'Stop Domestic Abuse' service) and children's homes.
The hope is that families across the whole of Portsmouth, no matter their background or means, can access and enjoy creativity.
The book features many different Portsmouth artists, designers and illustrators, ready to be coloured, cut out and shared in windows and online. The colouring book pages are also available digitally for free on the Portsmouth Creates website for everyone in the community to download, print, colour and display too.
The colouring book includes artwork from a range of designers from across the city.
Peta Tattersall, a University member of staff and contributor to the book said: “As a creative person I know the value of the arts, and I know that Portsmouth has a fantastic creative community that adds so much to our city. Being able to contribute as part of this community during these really challenging times was important to me, in however small a way. If it helps relieve someone's stress to any degree then it's a contribution worth making. I count myself flattered to have been selected to be in such good company!”
Everyone is invited to post coloured-in pages on social media using the #CreateUpPompey hashtag, and display them in their windows to celebrate local arts and positivity with their neighbours. All entries will enter a random draw for art prizes, donated by the University’s Faculty of Creative and Cultural Industries.