Posted: 02/11/15
Students’ creepy creativity gives Mansfield bars the chills
There were some ghoulish goings-on at two Mansfield town centre bars last week, thanks to the creepy creativity of West Nottinghamshire College students.
Creative students get into the 'spirit' in Industria, with general manager Linzi Pownall (left) and company director Jono Edwards (back, centre)
A group of 14 students on visual art and design courses gave Industria and sister venue Cheeky Monkey Halloween-style makeovers as part of a work placement project.
Equipped with a small budget to purchase props, they spent four days putting the fright factor into the Leeming Street and Handley Arcade bars, ready for the weekend’s celebrations.
Linzi Pownall, general manager of Industria, challenged the students to transform its industrial-themed interior into a haunted mansion – and was delighted with the eerie results.
She said: “I briefed them on what we wanted and gave them a morning to come up with their own concepts – then they all went shopping for the items and props to turn the vision into reality.
“I wanted the students to create something with the ‘wow factor’ and that’s exactly what they did. We worked on this constantly together for four days and I’ve never seen the bar looking so scary. Even I was absolutely petrified!”
Company director Jono Edwards urged other businesses to provide work placements for students, saying: “This is the first time we’ve done this sort of thing and I’ve been really impressed by the maturity of the students and their attitude towards work.
“If more employers give students a chance to gain some work experience, then that can only benefit everybody. It’s a win-win situation for all industries in Mansfield, as well as the young people.”
Foundation Diploma in Art and Design student Faye Bennett Newbury, 18, from Mansfield, said: “It’s been a great project to work on. We had to work out what to buy and use everything to maximum effect. I’ve learnt how to be more spatially-aware; thinking about where the customers are going to be, which props they’d see first and what to put on tables, in corners and over the bar areas.”
Jay Sadiq, 19, from Mansfield, who studies the Extended Diploma in Art and Design, said: “I’ve enjoyed working collaboratively as a team, using my creativity to come up with innovative new ideas. We stuck to the theme and transformed the place into something suitably fitting for Halloween. It’s been a brilliant experience.”
