The Box: In the Making - 170 Years of Arts University Plymouth

This exhibition runs until the 4th October 2026.

This was an interesting set of displays in the Active Archive at the Box.  The art community created around the Arts University has changed considerably in the 170 years it has existed.  The pieces exhibited showed how things change and some of the stories of the community.

I think the story that stood out most to me was the story of young women at the university.  In the 30s, women attending took part in women's crafts which was promoted as a way to earn a living and an enjoyable thing to do in your spare time.  In the 60s, if a woman was successful in their application, their acceptance letter would be addressed to their father.  If a man was successful, their acceptance letter was addressed to them.  The age of legal adulthood was not lowered to 18 until 1973 but women were seeing as being more dependant.  The first female apprentices in the art printing department were not accepted until 1973.  

It's difficult for me to accept this inequality and discrimination.  I don't understand why any woman would want to roll back time.  These times were not better for women.

It was lovely to see some pieces by some of the alumni.  Quite a range of talents!  

There were different archival materials showing the range of student life through the years.  It's just interesting to see how things change.

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