Show windows competition as part of Coventry’s City of Culture
Artwork created by Coventry schoolchildren is taking pride of place in the windows of three city centre businesses, for six weeks in February and March 2022, as part of a design competition created by Coventry UK City of Culture, RIBA and Coventry Business Improvement District, and funded by leading UK brickmaker and brick product supplier Ibstock.
Primary and secondary pupils across Coventry and Warwickshire were invited to design a window display in response to one of two themes, Coventry as the ‘City of Light’ and Coventry as the ‘City of Hope’. Pupils were allowed to use the physical or symbolic meaning of light or hope, but their designs had to link to, or portray, Coventry in some way.
Pupils from schools across Coventry and Warwickshire submitted their drawings before Christmas so they could be judged by a panel of local architects and members of RIBA’s Learning department.
The winners have now been announced and their designs have been brought to life in the windows of three Coventry city centre businesses - Archer Bassett, HSBC and Cafe Morso. The winning pupils and their classmates have worked with local companies in a series of workshops to prepare their artwork for installation in the businesses’ windows.
Key Stage 1
Mili Karia, aged 6, won best design for the Key Stage 1 category. Mili’s design was judged to be the winning entry from several hundred entries for her thoughtful message and beautiful design. Mili’s window shows children holding hands in happiness in front of a colourful backdrop which portrays a fun and lively environment – her hopes for the residents of Coventry.
"I hope that people will be happy when they see my window and that no-one will ever feel left out or on their own.” – Mili Karia
Hope for Coventry City by Mili Karia, age 6Hope for Coventry City by Mili Karia, age 6, in the window of Archer Bassett
Key Stage 2
Franco Poretta, aged 9, won best design for the Key Stage 2 category. Franco’s design was selected as the winning entry for its striking visuals and clever play upon the meaning of light. The design shows Coventry represented as a Phoenix, who is rising up into the sky, as Coventry has risen from many challenges in the past. The phoenix uses warm colours representing the sun it is flying towards, which has symbolism of hope and goodness.
“The phoenix is the main focal point of the design as it is an important symbol for Coventry. I hope people will enjoy the bold colours of the flames as well as the rising sun in the background as it lights up.” – Franco Poretta
The Phoenix of Light by Franco Poretta, age 9 The Phoenix of Light by Franco Poretta, age 9, in the window of HSBC
Secondary schools
Stella Whelan, aged 13, won best design for the Key Stage 3 category. The design focuses on a rainbow themed butterfly which is created using 47 different artistic elements, each portraying one of the areas of Coventry. The deceptively simple design impressed judges as it showed Stella’s hope for growth and acceptance in a symbolic and striking manner. The use of colour and the idea of communities portrays the hope that, as time goes by, Coventry will continue to grow and become more accepting and diverse, creating a hopeful atmosphere.
“I would like the butterfly display to give people hope and recognition of the growth and acceptance for people of all areas of Coventry." – Stella Whelan
The Butterfly of Hope by Stella Whelan, age 13The Butterfly of Hope by Stella Whelan, age 13, in the window of Cafe Morso
The competition is part of an initiative called The Show Windows, which is a 12 month programme that sees shop windows across Coventry transformed by local and international artists, designers, architects and makers into portals to fantasy worlds and mindscapes through site-specific artworks framed behind the window glazing.
Sophie Draper, Learning Manager, RIBA:
“It has been an honour to be part of the Show Windows project. It is such a fantastic initiative to inspire children and young people not only to think about design and architecture but to get them thinking about their own city and the things they like about and want for their neighbourhoods.
We received such an amazing range of design ideas from primary and secondary school children that really captured the qualities of light and hope along with the history and personality of Coventry. It was really hard to choose just three designs but we felt like the winning submissions really met the competition brief and will make some really fabulous window displays. We really cannot wait to see the final windows.”
Trish Willetts, Director of Coventry City Centre BID:
“The show windows is a project that not only features national artists but also some of our local artistic talent, so how better to help cultivate our future Coventry artists than through a project like this that captures the imagination of schoolchildren across the city and brings it to life. We’re grateful to RIBA for being so involved in this project and can’t wait to see the installations in our businesses’ windows.”
Discover more about The Show Windows by visiting Coventry city centre this year, or by visiting Smartify where you will find out more about the windows, artists, delivery team and other cultural activity being produced in Coventry by Coventry Business Improvement District.
