A series of painted globes reflecting the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade will create a striking permanent public art exhibition on the University of Reading’s campuses.

Students, staff and supporters of the University of Reading are being asked to join the Globe Trail project to help fund, select and unveil the new works of art, which will collectively create a thought-provoking art trail around the University’s three UK campuses – Whiteknights and London Road in Reading, and at Greenlands in Henley-on-Thames. 

The globes were created for The World Reimagined initiative, an art-education project designed to transform how we understand the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, and its ongoing impact.

The project asks us to face our shared history and learn from it, to help create a future where everyone feels visible. 

Vote for your favourites

Get involved and select which painted globes should form an art exhibition trail on our three UK campuses!

Students can vote (anonymously) for their two favourite globe designs using the form on this page. Or alternatively by clicking through to the Microsoft Forms website.

The results of this poll will be considered by the project committee making the final selection of globes for the trail.

Please vote by the deadline of 23:59 on Sunday 18 June 2023.

More information about the globe themes, how they connect with Reading and artist bios can be found by downloading this information document. Please note, you may need to click an approval prompt at the top of your screen to download.