Creative Arts celebrated with the launch of The Leaves
The third edition of The Leaves literary magazine was launched on Thursday 1 May at the Heong Gallery alongside a showcase of the Creative Arts at Downing.
Created by the Downing English Society, The Leaves features poetry, prose, drama and visual art by Downing students from a range of academic disciplines, as well as contributions from Downing Fellows, staff and alumni. For the first time, there are also contributions from Downing’s newly matriculated group of Creative Writing MSts.
Co-edited by Sapphy Welch-Dunn, Jude Hughes and Charlotte Payne, with work overseen by Fellow in English Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson, this year’s edition contains a variety of genre, style and subject matter. Striking landscape photography sits alongside experimental poetry; evocative paintings and pastel drawings accompany captivating memoir. Several of this year's contributors read out their work to the guests at the launch.
The Master introduced the new Downing College Creative Arts Strategy: a bold and ambitious programme of support for all the Creative Arts that will enable Downing students to access and develop skills and experience in writing, music, drama and visual art, alongside their academic work.
Dr Rachel Coombes, Fellow and Keeper of the Gallery, announced this year’s Twining Egginton Fine Arts Prize winner Sophia Lin and runners-up Molly Ollivier and Frankie Ratcliffe.
The launch party also showcased talent from the Downing Dramatic Society, with a performance from 5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche by Evan Linder and Andrew Hobgood, and a cello performance from Junior Organ Scholar Matthew Chanwai.
Dr Bonnie Lander Johnson said: “I’m so excited to see the third edition of The Leaves in print and to celebrate the launch of the Downing Creative Arts Strategy. We have so many talented students who deserve to have their skills developed while they are with us.
“Students don’t just arrive with their talents – many discover a new talent while at Cambridge. Downing will now be able to encourage and assist its students as they encounter all that creative endeavour has to offer them.”
Published 7 May 2025