Unique dates on campus

What are you planning for 14 February this year? A date with someone special? A day of treating yourself? Treating friends and family?

Our Arts teams here at Essex have pulled together a shortlist of unique dates on campus on and around Valentine’s Day that you can treat anyone to.

Life Drawing Class

Bring a plus one along to Art Exchange for a Life Drawing Class on 14 February!

This is a truly unique date where you can explore your creativity in a beautiful setting, led by artist Claudia Boese. All levels welcome, from beginners to advanced artists, and it’s FREE! 

Visit a Museum

We may have said goodbye to the beautiful Trinta/Treinta/Thirty exhibition celebrating 30 years of Essex’s museum, ESCALA, but did you know that ESCALA has a permanent exhibition here at our Colchester campus?

Take a look around the ground floor of the Silberrad Student Centre next time you visit to explore the artworks on display and immerse yourself - on your own or with a friend - in art from Latin America.

Drag Cabaret

In the mood for some music? Pop music in a swing style? Sung by popular drag performer Shar Cooterie and her pianist, Adam Abo-Henriksen? Don’t miss Shar Cooterie’s Well Swung, performed at the Lakeside Theatre on Saturday 10 February. 

The perfect date for those who love to laugh.

Art Exhibition

Explore the latest art exhibition on display in Art Exchange! Opening on 8 Feb with a launch party (6pm to 8pm), and then open Tuesday to Friday, 11.30am to 5pm until Friday 22 March, discover visual artist Hetain Patel’s The Jump. 

The Jump takes its name from Hetain’s film of the same name that see’s him dress up as Spiderman and surprise his family, along with a newly created collection of paintings that further expand on the film’s themes. 

Watch the behind the scenes video of the making of The Jump.

Curl up with a Book

Don’t neglect the love you have for yourself this February, we’re recommending you take some time to curl up with a book! 

Grab your favourite book and find a quiet corner of the Albert Sloman Library, or download an e-book from the Library’s Wellbeing and Leisure Collection.