M y name is Dr Kathryn Woods. I originally set-up the Then and Now project and exhibition. The idea came from my own research into the history of the student experience 1960-present. I believed that this was something that students in the Faculty of Arts might be interested in, and that this research would benefit from a ‘student eyed’ perspective. In my role as Director of Student Experience for Arts, I also develop original methods of teaching and learning.

This project was created as an experimental form of problem-based and practice-based learning that we will hopefully do more of across the Faculty in the future. It also aimed to build learning community and exchange between students from across the Arts departments.

From the start, students on the project have had primary ownership over its development. This has been really important to giving the project is distinct character and freshness. From the beginning of May 2020, the project will be entirely student-led as I hand over the project management reigns to Pierre Botcherby, a PhD candidate in history.

Working on this project has been one of the most enjoyable research and teaching experiences of my career so far.

The students have been amazing. I can’t say how much they have impressed me with their organisational and project management skills, creative talents, digital know-how and confidence, and academic research skills in archival research, interviewing, and content creation; they have taught me so much.

It has also been great to see them work together as a team and support each other in various ways. Equally, it has pleasure to work alongside Liz Wood and Melissa Downing from Warwick’s Modern Records Centre and get a close insight into the workings of the archive.

At present we are working on the project during the Covid-19 lockdown. We have used Microsoft Teams to hold our meetings, collaborate, and share ideas and content.

Through our weekly team meetings on Teams, it has been great to check-in and hear how everyone is doing. It is also great that the project still remains alive and well.

We are now focusing on an online exhibition and our Instagram page. We have also invited students to share their lockdown experiences to include as part of the online exhibition. It is hoped that the project, online exhibition, and Instagram, will help the Arts Faculty community – past and present - to stay connected during this difficult period. The project stands as testament to the value of the arts for communities, wellbeing, and finding meaning.