Exhibition Workshop: Book Benches

Follow the progress as six book benches are transformed by current students.

During this academic year, Martin Hall Exhibition Space will twice be transformed into a workshop space for the production of new sculptural works. For the first workshop, students are transforming the old Ladybird book benches that once lived in Loughborough town centre with their own designs, ahead of them being donated to local primary schools.

LU Arts and Loughborough University’s Community Warden team partnered with Charnwood Borough Council earlier this term to run a student competition for new designs for the benches. The six winning students are now turning their designs into reality as they paint them onto the benches. The students will be working on their benches at various times during the day as well as evenings and weekends. Once the benches are finished, they will be installed in the grounds of six local primary schools, where they will be enjoyed by school children for years to come.

We encourage you to take a look through the windows as you pass the gallery space, to see the work in progress. Please do not enter the space, however, unless you are instructed otherwise.

The second exhibition workshop will take place between March and May 2026. This will see conservation work taking place on Atta Kwami's sculpture Atsiaƒu ƒe agbo nu.