DIY Collections: Archive is a zine created by Coventry-based artist Adele Mary Reed, capturing the energy, generosity and curiosity of DIY Collections, the final event in a collaborative public programme by CVAN WM and DASH, presented as part of Coventry Biennial 2025: Obsessions, Possessions.
This 36-page publication celebrates a unique, multi-generational sharing event that brought together artists, creatives and collectors to explore personal archives, passions, and the stories we attach to the things we collect, keep and care for.
DIY Collections: Archive is available to read or download as a digital version below or to read in its physical format, distributed across Coventry, including local zine libraries, arts and cultural venues, and the DASH Library. Please contact info@dasharts.org if you are interested in receiving a copy.
About the zine:
Commissioned by CVAN WM and DASH, DIY Collections: Archive documents and reflects on ten presentations that made up the event, featuring contributions from creatives: Daniel Reed, Michelle Le Blanc and Colin Odell, Paul Chokran, Rachel Doughty, Hannah Moreton, Janet Tryner, Martina Irwin, Bella, Erik and Remi.
Across its pages, the publication reflects a remarkable range of interests and personal archives, from local gargoyles and fossil collecting to sketchbooks, rust and patina, food experimentation, and the emotional question of what to carry when moving across borders.
The zine captures not just the content of these collections, but the spirit of the day: open, curious, generous, and deeply human.
About DIY Collections:
DIY Collections took place in November 2025 at Coventry University as part of the Biennial programme. It was designed as both a professional development opportunity and a welcoming space for connection, blurring the lines between networking and creative exchange.
Developed collaboratively by CVAN WM and DASH, and curated by Adele, the event invited participants aged 7+ to share their personal collections and creative obsessions in an inclusive and supportive environment.
Attendees explored everything from stone-age tools to Japanese trivia, from screws and washers to Coventry’s Tree Sanctuary, alongside moments of shared experience that included handling objects, tasting homemade food. The event offered an alternative to more formal or intimidating formats, instead fostering a space for storytelling, knowledge-sharing and genuine connection.
A collaboration in practice:
For CVAN WM, a sector support organisation focused on artists, arts workers and organisations, DIY Collections marked an important step in re-engaging with public-facing programming following a period of reduced activity.
The project also reflects a growing partnership with DASH, rooted in shared values around access, inclusion, and sector development. Together, both organisations are committed to exploring new ways of working that connect professional practice with public engagement.
Adele’s role was central to shaping the event, bringing together a diverse network of contributors and creating a format that was playful, inclusive and aligned with the Biennial’s themes. Her work, including her leadership of Mothers Who Make Coventry, continues to play a vital role in the region’s creative ecology.
Looking ahead:
DIY Collections demonstrated the power of informal, inclusive sharing as a way to build relationships, platform artists, and strengthen regional networks. It offered a space where curiosity could lead, where knowledge was celebrated, and where connection felt natural.
This publication extends that moment, preserving the conversations, collections and creativity that made the event so special.
