Designs for life: an art/science collaboration to produce a quilted artpiece representing debate around contemporary biomedical science. (360G-Wellcome-078668_Z_05_Z)

We will make a giant fabric-based quilt that represents the ideas, concerns and issues of group of women about the biosciences relating to the Diamond Light Source, a synchrotron research facility. Groups from the Women's Institute will work with scientists and artists to design and construct pieces of artwork in response to discussion and debate about the study of diseases, drug development and environmental health. By providing suitable templates for the individual pieces of artwork - specifying size, shape and weight - we will assemble the pieces made by the participating groups into a final quilt-like structure. The quilt will be approximately 4m x 7m in size and will consist of various fabrics of contrasting texture and colour, providing significant visual impact. The quilt will then be displayed, over a three-month period, in various public places such as shopping centres, museums and leisure centres, facilitating ongoing discussion among a wide range of the viewing public. Accompanying explanatory notes and images will also be made available and feedback from the public will be encouraged. After the initial display run the quilt will be housed in the atrium at Diamond Light Source allowing continuing visibility to the visiting public, business community and scientists.