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Coventry University highlights the importance of tackling modern slavery with striking artwork
The artwork is part of the Red Sand Project, which has seen similar events around the world, each drawing attention to modern slavery and human trafficking.
University news / Student news
Monday 19 October 2026
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Students at Coventry University are drawing attention to modern slavery and human trafficking by bringing an internationally recognised art project to the city.
Working with the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network, students from courses across the university’s College of the Arts and Society created a thought-provoking artwork on the steps of Coventry Cathedral, pouring red sand into cracks between the paving stones.
The artwork is part of the Red Sand Project, which has seen similar events around the world, each drawing attention to modern slavery and human trafficking.
To further highlight the issue, Journalism and Media and Communications students created a video of an interview with Coventry City Council's Modern Slavery Lead screened in the Chapter House of the Cathedral.
Illustration students also created artwork depicting the event, while music students created an audio piece played alongside the creation of the Red Sands artwork.
The event took place on Friday (16th October), ahead of National Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October, a national awareness event urging governments and organisations to combat modern slavery.
Overall around 200 students from across the university took part in the activities and received training from the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network on the subject so they could speak to interested members of the public on the issue.
Coventry University Students’ Union, Coventry Cathedral, Coventry City Council and the West Midlands Anti-Slavery Network will all be working with Coventry University supporting events surrounding National Anti-Slavery Day.
Modern slavery and human trafficking is something organisations need to think about seriously, for example they need to consider whether they are using ethical suppliers. Many organisations also have a duty of care for people so thorough safeguarding processes to ensure none of an organisation’s resources support exploitation in any way are essential.
The Red Sand project is really interesting and very visual so we received a lot of questions about what it’s all about from students, staff and members of the public.
It’s great to be working with such great partners and to see our students learning about this subject as part of their courses in the runup to this event. Our university has adopted a Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking statement and events such as this highlight our commitment to combat it.
Dr Gill Cressey, co-ordinator Coventry University’s participation in the campaign
Find out more about the Red Sand project https://redsandproject.org/
