Downing Arts celebrated at the launch of The Leaves
Downing Arts celebrated at the launch of The Leaves
Downing celebrated its vibrant arts community on 30 April with an evening reception at The Heong Gallery.
The event marked the launch of the fourth edition of The Leaves, the College's annual literary magazine, created and edited by students from a wide range of academic disciplines. The magazine showcases poetry, prose, drama and visual art from Downing students, as well as an artwork by alumnus Quentin Blake (1953).
Produced through the College’s English Society, this year’s edition was edited by a team of Edward Campbell, Theo Flavin, Louis Gentle, Thomas Lewis Ward and Lola Pesskin, with guidance from Fellow in English Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson.
Dr Lander Johnson said: "This year’s magazine is a joy to read. The student editors received so many submissions that they were only able to print less than a third. I know it was hard for them to decline submissions of such quality. Downing is a supremely talented and creative college. I look forward to seeing The Leaves grow for many years to come."
The evening also saw the announcement of the Twining Egginton Fine Arts Prize winners. This year saw three joint winners, each representing a different artistic medium - Imogen Knight for Bella, Retreating, Cassidy Gattegno for Bather and Sapphy Welch-Dunn for the two printed terracotta plant pots The Vessel of Humility and The Vessel of Liberty.
The winners received £200 each and were presented with a certificate by Professor Graham Virgo, Master of Downing College. Entries from this year’s competition will remain on display in The Heong Gallery until 10 May 2026.
Guests were also treated to musical performances. A Recorder Trio comprising the College Chaplain, the Director of Music, and the Graham Robertson Research Fellow entertained the audience, while undergraduate Zaria Jankelovitz-Gelvan delivered a rendition of Finishing the Hat by Stephen Sondheim, a nod to the Downing Dramatic Society's Send In the Clowns concert held in February.
The Launch of The Leaves was also celebrated on the Downing Arts Podcast. Hear from co-editor Lola Pesskin about the work that goes into compiling the magazine behind the scenes, as well as from the Twining Egginton winners.
Published 5 May 2026
