Bicester Village would partner with Studio Voltaire for a three-year collaboration, according to WWD. L'accord would provide funding from the British outlet village for the arts organisation's educational programme.

The launch of this collaboration would take the form of an outdoor installation dedicated to Beryl Cook, unveiled on 10 September. According to WWD, it would stretch over a mile, with life-size cut-out figures and murals inspired by the artist's most popular works, scattered along the streets, on benches, signs, green spaces and telephone boxes throughout the village.

Visitors would also be able to pose in front of a life-size recreation of « Breakfast at Elviras », a Beryl Cook painting dated 1996.

A pop-up and original works

At the centre of the village, a House of Voltaire pop-up would offer limited-edition prints, cushions, silk scarves, teacups and merino wool dog blankets, as well as rare original works by Beryl Cook.

All sales from House of Voltaire would support Studio Voltaire, an organisation that offers free community programmes, produces live events and supports emerging and underrepresented artists. The learning programme would aim to offer free workshops led by artists, drop-in activities and skills development sessions, in order to « favoriser le bien-être et la joie communautaire ».

Joe Scotland, director of Studio Voltaire, said that « ce partenariat avec Bicester Village n'apporte pas seulement la vision joyeuse de Beryl à des millions de visiteurs, mais fournit aussi un financement transformateur pour notre programme d'apprentissage, garantissant un accès créatif indispensable pour la prochaine génération ».

Sophie Cook, the artist's granddaughter, said for her part that « voir les personnages de sa grand-mère prendre vie le long des rues animées du village est l'hommage parfait et ludique à sa vie et à son œuvre ».

James Lambert, vice-president of Value Retail, said that the collaboration offers visitors « une expérience culturelle totalement unique cet automne » and that the company is « incroyablement fière que cette collaboration lance un partenariat de trois ans soutenant les initiatives éducatives et communautaires vitales de Studio Voltaire ».

Studio Voltaire said this partnership would allow it to expand its creative programming for local schools, colleges and community groups.