Learners’ stunning artworks for calendar celebrating Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Learners from across Milton Keynes College Group, including its Milton Keynes campuses as well as its 30 prisons, have contributed to this year’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Calendar – celebrating a wide range of cultural and community events.
The EDI Calendar highlights events and celebrations that are often overlooked in traditional shop-bought calendars, celebrating the diversity of our campus and prison learners by marking key dates for celebrations such as World Braille Day in January, LGBT+ History Month in February, Black History Month and Diwali in October, and Hanukkah in December.
The artworks selected for the Calendar were diverse in style and media, all responding to this year’s theme: “Cultural Heritage and Recognising Environmental Diversity.” Encouraging personal interpretation, this theme inspired our learners to explore artistic ways of celebrating both cultural heritage and the diversity of ecosystems, landscapes, and wildlife from around the world. It inspires to cherish and celebrate the cultural heritage found within our campuses and prisons.
A panel of four judges received a fantastic array of submissions this year and independently evaluated all artworks based on their artistic merit and connection to the theme. The judges were impressed by this year’s submissions, saying that ‘there are far more excellent submissions than there are months in the year.’ Altogether, there were 159 submissions. From animal-populated savannahs and seascapes to rural British landscapes, they depicted a wide range of environments and cultures. Many of them blended symbolism and text, with quotes from famous artists and thinkers such as Frida Kahlo and Brené Brown, as well as our learners’ own thoughts on cultural and environmental diversity.
Nine artworks were selected from prison learners, including from HMP Gartree, HMP Frankland, HMP Send, HMP Erlestoke, HMP Fosse Way, HMP Full Sutton and HMP Garth, showcasing the range of talent within our prison learners across England. Three artworks were chosen from campus learners, demonstrating the creativity within our art departments, with one piece from a Photography student and two from students of Art & Design.
Sally Alexander, CEO and Group Principal of MK College Group, said: “With Belonging being a key value at MK College Group, we hope to make everyone connected with the Group feel valued for their true selves. I am delighted to share our Group calendar for 2025, celebrating key dates across a range of communities. I am especially pleased that contributions have come from learners throughout our entire Group, including nine from our prison learners.”
The EDI Calendar is an annual project which allows our learners to explore socio-political and environmental themes through art, with some of our previous themes being ‘Community’ and ‘Belonging’.
Arv Kaushal, Head of People Development and EDI at the College Group, said: “At MK College Group, our ambition to foster a genuine sense of belonging is central to everything we do. This year’s EDI Calendar beautifully exemplifies this commitment. The 2025 calendar, themed ‘Cultural Heritage and Recognising Environmental Diversity,’ has provided our learners and colleagues with the opportunity to explore these concepts through inspirational and thought-provoking artwork.”
“While no calendar can encompass all the significant dates throughout the year, we hope this one sparks your curiosity and encourages you to discover what matters to those around you.”
To find out more about the College Group’s work in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, visit Equality and diversity – MK College.
