Creative Connections: Imperial Letters

Experience a bold and thought-provoking artwork inspired by reflections from Imperial College London’s community on the institution’s complex and multi-faceted history.

The artwork, created by Christina Peake, reflects themes, key figures, ideas, motifs and iconography that came out of the Creative Connections project. This initiative connected staff and students (many identifying as global majority, from the LGBTQIA+ community, as having a disability, or a combination of all three) with Peake, to explore Imperial’s history. and heritage.

Through workshops, participants shared their reflections on the legacy of the Great Exhibition of 1851, the British Empire, Imperial’s heritage, history and global connections. They explored the pride they feel in being part of Imperial College London as well as their diverse feelings, perspectives and narratives on the history of Imperial.

Peake’s artwork draws on this shared dialogue, combining historical research on the Great Exhibition, Imperial’s archives, with her knowledge of imperialism and Victorian history, as well as exploring hidden histories from LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities. She ensured the voices of the Creative Connections' participants, as well as the stories of historically marginalised people, remained central to her work.

Peake is a Collaborative Practice-Based Doctoral Researcher at the University of Westminster and The National Archives.

The Creative Connections project was funded by the Imperial History Group and led by Imperial’s Public and Community Engagement teams. With special thanks to all the participants, Anne Barrett, University Archivist & Corporate Records Manager, Imperial College London and Angela Kenny, Archivist, Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.

Visitor information

This artwork is suitable for all ages. 

Dangoor Plaza has step-free access.

Find out more about the Great Exhibition

To attend the Festival, please make sure to register for free. Registering is the only way to receive the latest Festival updates, a first look at the programme, and opportunities to book free tickets for popular events.

Register now for the Festival >