Evidence suggests that engaging with art has positive effects for health and wellbeing. The team behind this year’s University Summer Exhibition at the Hartley Library hope that everyone involved as a visitor and a contributor enjoys the experience.

The exhibition is open at Hartley Library, Highfield campus, from 3 June to 3 August 2026 and is curated by the Library’s Connecting Collections team.

Engagement Librarians, Donna Ballan, Emma Guest, Clare Hemmings and Kate Walker, take on a wide variety of work to put the exhibition on each year. Activities range from engaging with artists from across the university who want to get involved and learning about their creations, to planning and installing the displays. The team also creates the labels, promotes the exhibition and organises the launch party.

None of the team has a formal background in organising or installing exhibitions. “But each year we make it happen, says Donna. “I’m always so impressed by what we achieve and the end result.”

This year’s exhibition theme is ‘Exploration’. It was chosen to tie in with the British Science Festival which the University is hosting in September.

“We like to choose a theme that can have a broad interpretation. So while some of this year’s artworks do have a scientific angle, there are also others that look at things differently such as through memory, history and identity, and just the idea that creating art is a form of exploration in itself,” explains Clare.

There are 21 artworks on display this summer, including paintings, illustrations, photographs, origami, pottery, needlework, an artists’ book, 3D prints and a snow globe. There’s even a short pixel art video game which visitors are welcome to play.

There are 21 artworks on display this summer, including paintings, illustrations, photographs, origami, pottery, needlework, an artists’ book, 3D prints and a snow globe. There’s even a short pixel art video game which visitors are welcome to play.

The team love seeing the different ways in which the artists choose to interpret the theme each year.

“No two artworks are ever the same and it means that we have a diverse range of artworks on display.”

Contributions this year come from university staff in Archaeology, ECS, Digital Humanities, Valley Graphics, Health Sciences, the School of Biological Science, Engineering, Internal Comms and the Library itself.

“Art is a good way of bringing communities together and a regular summer exhibition offers the chance to work with colleagues across the university,” says Clare. “We hope that everyone involved sees a benefit to their wellbeing from engaging with art.”

To experience an art-based boost to your wellbeing, why not pop along for a visit, maybe even arrange a team visit? The whole exhibition will also be digitized, so you’ll be able to see it online later in the year if you can’t make it to Highfield.

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