Andrea Mbarushimana
Solo Publications
COVENTRY PEOPLE: A series of 15 illustrated booklets (32 pages, A6) each based on the real life of someone living or working in Coventry.
I devised and created the first set of books back when I worked at Coventry Peace House Education Trust. Those focussed on migrants, who were being persecuted at the time.
May 2025 sees the publication of ten new booklets, this time focussing on people targeted by the political far right, including queer and trans people and people who are neurodiverse or with hidden disabilities. This set was supported by Foleshill Creates and funded by the Community Cohesion and Resilience Fund (Coventry City Council)
Please contact me to download the booklets in pdf form and use them in community and educational settings to promote discussion.
All I ask is that you don't change the booklets in any way, charge people for them or distribute them without my permission. Please be kind and gracious to the people who agreed to be interviewed. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me through the contact page of this website.
A massive, massive thank you to everyone involved in these books, particularly the wonderful interviewees who gave us a window into their lives.
Graphic Note-taking
I enjoy graphic note-taking and facilitating discussion. Examples of organisations I've worked with include Coventry City Council, Coventry University, Talking Birds Theatre Company (below) and organisations from the voluntary and community sector.
Murals
Painting big, outdoor murals on board, concrete or brick is really exciting for me, especially when the work is co-created with children or community groups. I've painted murals in public spaces and primary school playgrounds including Frederick Bird Primary, which was commissioned as part of Imagineer's Bridge project.
Art Workshops in the Community
For 8 years I ran weekly art workshops with destitute asylum seekers. Since then I have worked with the general public, children and adults with a learning disability / autism. I have run workshops that are aimed at building confidence, creating a safe space, for team-building to explore issues and to teach skills such as painting, printing, journalling, collage and clay mask-making. I love facilitating workshops and encouraging participants to unleash their creativity.
Painting and Drawing
I particularly love drawing and painting as you can see in the following gallery of work.
Project Based Art
I've created a number of bigger projects, such as Afro, which explored th relationship black African and Afro-Caribbean people have with their hair, Curating Coventry Cultures and Inshuti, my first big exhibition which also became an education pack funded by the Imperial War Musem and delivered in Coventry Schools. Below are some images from these projects.