The project was funded thanks to a major gift from the Bill Brown Charitable Trust, as well as donations from other supporters and alumni. Located on-site at the College, the workshops provide space for all skill levels and disciplines to create and develop ideas using leading technologies. With equipment such as 3D printing, laser cutters and computer-aided-design sitting within workshopping spaces, students can test and explore projects with tools and support on hand from the BBCW Technician, Jonathan Woolf. Jonathan’s role at the Bill Brown Creative Workshops is to show students how to use the facilities, to help them create, innovate, and to support their work. He joins the College after years of experience working at community workshop Makespace Cambridge.
Guests attending a launch event on Oct 11th were able to tour the facility and see demonstrations of equipment in action, with 3D printed pandas and laser-cut keyrings shown as examples of ways in which students can experiment, learn and familiarise themselves with the processes before unleashing their own ideas. The exhibition space within the Bill Brown Creative Workshops provides a means to showcase resulting work.
For the launch event, the exhibition featured work by David Nash RA, a renowned British sculptor known for his work with natural materials, exploring interdisciplinary themes of climate change, sustainability, geography, geometry and landscape, providing inspiration for students exploring critical issues related to the environment and sustainability.
Founding Director of the BBCW, Barry Phipps, is responsible for overseeing, facilitating, and programming all activities in the Creative Workshops. At the event Barry said:
“The Bill Brown Creative Workshops are a unique facility within Oxbridge colleges, designed to encourage collaboration, creativity, interdisciplinary thinking in keeping with the College’s founding principles. We’re delighted to be able to offer this to our students, and grateful to everyone who has supported this remarkable project.”
