UAL Black Creatives fundraising colouring book
The Black Creatives colouring book is an initiative developed by UAL’s Black Creatives Hub in partnership with not just a shop. It gave current UAL students and recent graduates who identify as Black or mixed-Black heritage the opportunity to submit their illustration designs to be featured in a unique colouring book, available to purchase in store and online.
We caught up with UAL’s Black Creatives Hub Project Lead Bunmi Ekundayo to talk more about the inspiration and making of the colouring book, and the importance of this opportunity for emerging, young Black artists.
For anyone discovering the project for the first time, could you tell us a little about the Black Creatives colouring book and how the idea came about?
The idea came from wanting to showcase the incredible talent we have among Black illustrators at UAL to a wider audience, while also creating something that the students and graduates could add to their portfolios and CVs.
I’m an avid colourer and own a few colouring books myself. While I was colouring one day, I started thinking about how many talented illustrators we have at UAL and how great it would be to bring some of their work together and showcase their talent in a different way. I also wanted to make sure they were paid for their work and that the project could generate income to reinvest back into the Black Creatives Hub.
The book launched this October to mark Black History Month and consists of 20 designs from 9 talented illustrators. It takes a unique twist on a classic colouring book with individual colouring sheets designed by UAL Creative and funded by UAL’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion team. The designs are incredibly unique and something that everyone included should be very proud of.
The competition invited Black and Black mixed-heritage UAL students and recent graduates to submit an illustration or design for the book. Why was it important to create this particular opportunity for emerging creatives, and what did you hope they would get from taking part?
We wanted to give emerging creatives the chance to have their work featured as part of a professional product and seen by a wider audience.
Having your work featured in a physical product that people can actually buy is a great thing to be able to add to your portfolio and CV and hopefully it gives the students and graduates more exposure and confidence in their work and leads to further opportunities.
You’ve now selected the winning designs from the submissions. What did you see in the successful entries that made them stand out?
We had so many wonderful illustrations to choose from. In total, we received 66 submissions and it was really difficult to decide which ones to include in the final 20 designs.
We wanted the colouring book to have a real variety of designs that showcased Black identity, history, culture and lived experiences. The successful entries were eye-catching, approached the theme in a unique way and were designs that we thought would be fun to colour. They were original and really stood out to us.
The colouring book is launching during Black History Month and will also raise funds for the Black Creatives Hub. Why is it important to have a project like this at this time, and how will purchasing the book help support the Hub and its work?
It’s important to create opportunities that support Black creatives because there are still barriers for Black people entering and progressing within the creative industries. Through the Black Creatives Hub, we want to create opportunities, showcase talent and support the Black creative community at UAL.
Launching the book during Black History Month felt like a really fitting way to celebrate the talent of the students and graduates involved and give their work a platform.
The proceeds from the book will be reinvested into the Black Creatives Hub to support future activity and opportunities for the Black creative community at UAL. So when you buy a copy, you’re not only supporting the creatives whose work is featured in the book, you’re also helping us continue to create opportunities like this.
What would you say to a student or recent graduate who sees opportunities like this but isn’t sure whether to apply or put their work forward?
I’d say go for it. You don’t know unless you try and you never know where an opportunity like this could take you. Have faith and confidence in your work and your ability. You never know who is looking at your work or where it could lead. I wish opportunities like this had been available when I was at university.
Lastly, for anyone reading this who wants to support the project, why should they pick up a copy of the colouring book?
You should pick up a copy because the illustrations are phenomenal and incredibly unique. There’s such a great variety of designs across the illustrations, so I think anyone who loves colouring will really enjoy the experience. I’m excited to colour them in myself!
It’s also a great way to support the students and graduates featured in the book and give their work more exposure. By buying a copy, you’re supporting a project created to celebrate and showcase Black creative talent at UAL.
Learn more about the winning artists here and join us in-store on Tuesday, October 6 to celebrate the launch of the colouring book with our sip and colour event. Book your free ticket now for a chance to check out the fantastic designs and colour them while enjoying drinks, snacks and great company.
Date: Tuesday, October 6 • 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Location: not just a shop • 272 High Holborn, London WC1V 7EY