Art and Design Students Bring Festive Magic to Charters’ Santa’s Grotto

Working to a professional brief, Art and Design students were tasked with designing and constructing a Santa’s Grotto inspired by the theme of The Gingerbread House, producing a vibrant, immersive display for families and visitors.

The project challenged students to collaborate as a creative team, from initial concept development through to construction and installation. Using a carefully unified colour palette, they produced a collection of oversized, candy-themed decorations that are playful, visually striking, and photo-friendly.

Alisha Clare, Level 3 Art and Design student, said, “I enjoyed doing the live brief. You have lots of options for what you can do, and you can decide what aspect of the brief you want to focus on. This brief was candy-themed, so I chose to focus on big lollipops.”

Throughout the project, students considered practical requirements alongside creativity, ensuring all pieces were lightweight, safe, and suitable for installation within an indoor hospitality environment. The result is a cohesive, warm and inviting Christmas display that enhances the festive atmosphere at Charters while providing an engaging backdrop for family photographs.

Ellie Morris, from Charters Bar, said: “We’ve chosen the talented art students at Peterborough College to create our gingerbread house display because they consistently produce work to a high standard in a professional manner and consistently work to the brief. Everyone involved is truly inspiring. I’m so pleased with the work they’ve produced! I cannot thank you all enough!“

Digby Chacksfield, Art and Design lecturer, said: “I am so proud of our students from level 1 to level 3 for their professional approach to this live brief. They have met an external deadline whilst also submitting their academic work.  The capacity of our students to produce high-quality art is a testament to their focus and dedication to working in the creative industries.  Our young people are amazing young professionals. When allowed to lead their own projects and be creative, they truly shine.”

This project marks the second successful collaboration between Charters Bar and Art and Design students, following a previous seasonal Halloween installation. Building on this earlier work, students responded to a new festive brief, further developing their creative confidence and strengthening an established partnership with a local business. The opportunity to deliver work for a returning client and see it displayed in a busy, community-focused venue highlights the value of sustained industry links and their positive impact on student progression.