Artist in Residence helps pupils draw on cosmic inspiration

The University of Reading Art Collection has appointed an artist whose work explores space travel and imagined futures as its new Artist in Residence.

The mission of Anurita Chandola FRASwill be to make the University’s historic drawings collection more accessible to underrepresented pupils at a local secondary school.

Anurita will spend three years working with pupils at Maiden ErleghSchool in Reading, leading workshops that give students access to and taking inspiration from some of the hundreds of original artworks in the collection, which includes original drawings by Rubens and paintings by Walter Sickert, among others.

The residency, funded by a grant from the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) and the Worshipful Company of Art Scholars’ Enriching Lives programme, uses the theme of ‘drawing diversity’ to explore stories missing from the University’s Western drawings collection.

Anuritabegan a research phase in January 2026 and is now beginningworkshopswith Maiden Erlegh pupils, which will continue until 2027. The sessions will build students’ observational, creative and critical thinking skills. 

A key aim is to open upideas about creative careers, including roles as artists, curators and museum professionals, to pupils who may not have previously considered them.

Drawing on curiosity

In the final year of the residency, Anuritawill work with students to curate an exhibition of their own work, created in response to the collection, in the school's exhibition space.

Anuritasaid: “My work often begins with imagining futures, especially through the lens of space travel, and gently bringing those learnings back to Earth. 

“I am interested in drawing not as a finished artwork, but as a process of curiosity, reflection, and questioning. The University's drawings collection offers a rich starting point to explore whose stories have been held, and whose voices might still be missing. I hope to help students see creative pathways as something open and possible.”

Dannielle Keegel, Widening Participation Project Officer at the University, said: “There is a lack of diversity in the arts sector which we hope to address through this project, where art history will reach local school-aged students,regardless of their family backgrounds.

“This project stands as an opportunity to raise the artistic aspirations of students who may face the greatest barriers to learning.”