#ARTSSU

[arts-su]

Weird Things About the Brits

1. ‘Hiya’

This means HELLO or HI. Why add a ‘ya’ on the end? Still trying to figure that one out.

2. ‘You alright?’

When this is said in passing, you’re going to want to stop and say: ‘Yeah I’m fine thanks for asking, are you okay?’. Don’t do this. This is a rhetorical question. By no means respond with an actual answer. Simply repeat the question back and keep walking. 

3. Pancake Day

Also known as ‘Shrove Tuesday’. We have a day to celebrate and eat pancakes. It’s a thing and it’s happening. Mark your calendars because it’s a BIG DEAL - Tuesday February 13th, 2018.

4. A million x’s

Literally, a MILLION X’s. The equivalent of xo but would you write xoxoxoxoxoxoxo after every text, email, comment? Well, we do! 

5. You don’t wait in ‘line’

You wait in a queue! The queue is what keeps the UK moving at a steady pace. Be it at the supermarket, on the tube platform, or waiting for the bank to open. We queue. 

6. HP sauce

We don’t think anyone knows what HP stands for, it anything at all BUT we do know that this is the nectar of all condiments for all occasions. Find one in a Tesco aisle near you. 

7. ‘Taking a piss’

This does not literally mean using the toilet. It could mean any of the following, someone’s not taking you seriously, someone’s playing with you, someone’s laughing at you. This is actually said a lot more than you may think!

8. Taking the ‘elevator’

Is actually known as taking the lift! All our signs point to the lift. Not sure what this elevation business is all about. Must be some sorcery stuff...

9. 15th July 2016

You see that? The day is BEFORE the month when writing the date. because the date is always before the month. Simple.

10. ‘Cheers mate!’

Best of all and what you’ll hear EVERYWHERE and 24/7. Cheers, mate! We may not be friends but it’s only right to!

[arts-su-education-blog]

The Community of Sant’Egidio - blog by Tanja Tian

The Community of Sant'Egidio fights for peace all over the world and wants to be the family of all those who have no family. Founded in Italy in 1968 it now exist in more than 78 countries in the world and is also present in London. Here you become friends with poor. Living in London might be isolating sometimes and that’s why we want to fight isolation together. To find out more about our services to the homeless and older people, email us at cse.london@gmail.com. Together, we can make London and the world, a more human place.

Want to get involved or have any questions? get in touch with Tanja on t.tian0120171@arts.ac.uk.

If you have anything you are involved in, whether its in your community or at UAL that you would like other students to know of, feel free to get in touch with Arts SU, write a blog and we can help share it! (and you can get in touch with me directly on education@su.arts.ac.uk)

[cat-knows-you]

it's @artssulondon's election week! i'm running for welfare, voting opens on monday. link in my bio 💜 #ual #ArtsSU #ualelections #ualwelfare (at Arts SU: UAL's Students' Union)

[arts-su]

Dealing with homesickness

Homesickness can make you feel really down, but don’t worry it’s perfectly natural and can be beaten off with these simple techniques that will make everything seem just so much better!

Stay in touch

If you miss your mum or someone else from home in particular then call them! They would love to hear from you and hearing their voice will cheer you up no end. When you speak to them try to keep the conversation positive and tell them all the good or interesting things that have happened to you so far.

Meditate and remember the good things

Take some time to practice meditation and mindfulness. Try to think of at least one thing a day that you like about your new home or college. 

Love your New Environment

Taking a few special things from home can help to make a new place feel more homey. But don’t try to turn your uni bedroom into a shrine of your room at home, instead try to love it for what makes it different.

Keep a Journal

You’ll be amazed at how quickly this works! Instead of spending hours in your room thinking negative thoughts and suffering from homesickness try writing your feelings down. That way you can still experience them but can leave them in the journal instead of carrying them around with you all day.

We hope that these tips help and if you notice someone in your halls who seems to have the Freshers blues, why not do something to cheer them up? Even a friendly cup of tea helps!

[arts-su]

Attendance monitoring: a message from your Officers

ARTS SU OPPOSES THE ATTENDANCE MONITORING TRIAL AT LCC AND WIMBLEDON COLLEGES

This term, the university are trialing a new attendance monitoring programme that will see you have to touch in and out of class.

At other universities, such a system has been used to punish students who don’t attend lectures and stop them progressing on their course.

While the university has given assurance this new attendance monitoring scheme will not be used for this purpose and is just there to collect data in order to better pick up on and support students who may be struggling, there is very little stopping them following dozens of other universities in using this data against students at a later date.

Lack of attendance should not be met with punishment in any circumstances. We are adults who should be trusted to make our own decisions over attendance.

In cases in which students are unable to attend because of illness or disability the response should not be to monitor students, which in turn erodes the learning environment and respect between students and lectures that should be a given at university, but instead to improve processes to support them. This is especially the case for students struggling with mental health, which often cause students to miss classes long before they are at a point where they feel able to tell course leaders and tutors about them.

We do not welcome the growing trend of universities, including UAL, who feel they can monitor more and more of our campus activity. We think students should be able to enjoy their time on campus and in classes without feeling like they are constantly under the watchful eye of the university management.

We urge the university to end this trial now and will continue to fight so that you can enjoy your courses free from unnecessary and unhelpful monitoring experiments.

Please write to campaigns@su.arts.ac.uk with your thoughts and experiences of this attendance monitoring trail.

In unity,

Hansika, Katy, Leah and Sahaya

[arts-su]

Relationships at Uni: the balancing act

It is a known fact that relationships are work. When was the last time you called your cousin who lives up north? Or last time you saw your mate from secondary school that you really got along with? 💭

Case in point here people!

Whether they are friendships or romantic relationships, the ‘ship’ can be hard to keep sail!  Moving to a whole new city does put a spanner in the works, so you need to get the elbow grease out and put in a little thing we call - effort. 

Make the time to talk often

As simple as that sounds, it is the core of maintaining your relationships. Life works successfully in London, on a schedule. Now we know you probably don’t want to be ‘that’ person, but if you’re going to make time to eat your pot noodles, stick your laundry in the machine and beat the traffic, then you may want to take control of your time before it controls you. Fortunately for us and our digital age with Skype, Facebook, Whatsapp and so many other apps like them, it is easy to speak to all your loved ones as often as you want!

Be honest

If you’re busy and aren’t able to speak, just say! Technology can be a blessing and a curse. It’s harder to sort out arguments and easy for misunderstandings to happen sometimes when you solely rely on technology. If you know you’re going to be busy all week and you mum is forever calling you, give her a heads up. Save her worrying and calling the national guard.

Finding and maintaining a balance

This is probably the hardest bit. How do you juggle making new friends and socializing while holding on to your relationship? Find a balance. Make sure you have time for yourself in between the socialising and Skyping your partner/family/friends. That is what will help you feel less overwhelmed. Saying no to the whole list is also okay. You need time to yourself - you’re the one starting a new chapter after all!

Plan trips to see each other

This makes the whole long distance thing so much easier! If you know you’re going to see each other soon, you both have something to look forward to. Don’t leave it too long either. The longer you postpone your visit the sooner you’ll realise it’s already Christmas!

But don’t be so hard on yourself if it’s not working out. Remember that all relationships are subject to change too. Some might become stronger and deeper while you’re at university, while others may become more distant and fade away. Being aware of that yourself will make adjusting to the changes easier for yourself too!

[arts-su]

London? Is that you?

You may have been living in London for a while now, but unless you play Pokémon Go, there probably are a bunch of places you haven’t visited yet, or didn’t even know they existed! 

As ever, we’ve got our ears to the ground and have a few things that will have you questioning the London you thought you knew!

Kyoto Garden 

For the lovers of anything Japanese or the lovers of nature - this is your place! It’s a small and quiet area located in Holland Park (not far from where Hugh Grant lived in the house with a blue door and fell in love with Julia Roberts, FYI).

 The park surrounds a Jacobean mansion - Holland House, named after its second owner, the Earl of Holland, whose wife was the first person in England to successfully grow dahlias. In the 19th century, Holland House became a hub of political and literary activity, visited by Disraeli and Lord Byron amongst others, but sadly was largely destroyed by bombs during WWII.

We recommend grabbing a book or a partner and enjoy the tranquility!

Highgate Cemetery

If you’re more into the Addams Family sort of thing, we’ve got you covered! Highgate Cemetery is a place of burial in north London and is perfect for an introspective day. It’s listed as a designated Grade I, on the Historic England Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest in England. 

It is divided into two parts, named the East and West cemetery and the sculptures are to die for!

Hampstead Heath Ponds

Fancy a swim? No need to pack your travel charger or currency - just head off to Hampstead instead! Open-air swimming is internationally famous at Hampstead Heath with the Ladies’ Pond, the Men’s Pond, the Mixed Pond and the Parliament Hill Lido. 

Tickets are from £2, which is a bargain in London, so don’t forget to bring sun cream!

Little Venice

Nope, this is not in Italy, it’s in the middle of London and it’s beautiful! Little Venice is a scenic part of London, known for its canals and moored boats. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you can also find the zoo. It’s the home of many famous people and much of the property in the area are terraced mansions and town houses. 

Well worth having a relaxing stroll along some unusual London scenery!

The Mandir

No we’re not pulling your leg but again yes, this is in London!

BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir is a masterpiece of traditional Hindu design and exquisite workmanship that rises serenely amid London’s iconic skyline. Using 5,000 tonnes of Italian Carrara and Indian Ambaji marble and the finest Bulgarian limestone, it was hand-carved in India before being assembled in London. Just think of the leg work! Completely worth the visit.

There you have it! A selection of places that you may have never thought could be hiding inside our little concrete jungle that we call London! 💖🙌

Know anymore cool locations? Let us know!

[arts-su]

A message from your Officers

"We were really pleased to hear today from the Library Services that following from the Saturday opening pilots at Camberwell, Chelsea and Wimbledon Libraries at UAL, they will now be permanent through out the new academic year!

And, we're also extremely pleased to say that there will be a 24/7 Learning Zone accessible at the new Camberwell building from this academic year onwards!!!

We know longer opening hours, and more 24/7 access is an issue all of us students care about and although we've had this great news we will continue pushing it as a priority for UAL across every college and site" 😊

In unity, Hansika, Katy, Leah and Sahaya

[arts-su]

Words from Advice: Tenancy Agreements

It’s that time of year when many students will be finalising living arrangements and signing tenancy agreements. This can feel like a challenge at the best of times however when you factor in a fast paced housing market and a city with no real centre, it’s easy to see why some students find renting in London overwhelming. 

That said, finding the right home can be a really rewarding aspect of living independently and so don’t be put off by the initial leg work. There’s also lots of help available to stop you getting lost in legal jargon. Our Advice Service offers free, confidential housing advice, including contract checks, and you can find their details here.

If you are about to move into a new property, take a look at our tips for making it as hassle free as possible:

1) Ensure you have read and understood the tenancy agreement 📝

We understand they can be long but understanding your responsibilities now can save you time in the long run. If you have a joint tenancy you are all liable for the rent (so it will be up to you to work out how this is divided up- for example, will the person with the smallest room pay less or will you just split it evenly?). If there’s a term you don’t understand (or don’t think should be there) then chat to one of our advisers.

2) Complete an inventory and/or take dated photos 📸

Recording the condition of the property and furnishings now can help you reclaim your deposit when you move out. Similarly, if the landlord promised to fix anything before you moved in, now is the time to ensure they have done so.

3) Talk to your housemates 🗣

If you’re living with new people then it can take time to settle into a compatible routine. It may help to have a conversation early on about people’s expectations- for example, how often will you clean? How often do people need in the shower in the morning?

4) Sort out utilities 💰

If your bills aren’t included in your rent then you may need to contact utility companies yourself to ensure they are in your name (and to provide meter readings).

Further sources of information are the Shelter website and the University of London Housing Services.

[arts-su]

Made in Arts London Presents: Commissioning Round Table Discussion

10.00-11.30am Friday 8th September

Arts SU, First Floor, 272, High Holborn, WC1V 7EY

As part of a series of events surrounding the annual Made in Arts London independent exhibition Persona, MiAL are incredibly excited to present a round table discussion with Lydia Cowpertwait of Dais Contemporary!

Already a friend of MiAL, having been on the selection panel for the MiAL S/S 2016 Collection, Lydia returns to give an initial talk regarding her experience of commissioning artists and provide tips and advice on working with a gallery to create a commission. Each attendee will have the opportunity to talk to Lydia about their ideas for a commissioned piece of work and get intimate 1-2-1 advice. You can read more about Lydia’s background and her Directoral role at Dais Contemporary  here.

There are 10 places available and it is FREE to attend the event, but booking is compulsory and can be made through our website where you will also be able to find details of the other events surrounding Persona.

Persona will run from 21st- 30th September 2017, open daily at Four Corners Gallery, 121, Roman Road, Bethnal Green, E2 0QN.

[arts-su]

Already in London? Here's whats on!

We can not wait to see you at our Official UAL Freshers' Fair 2017! But there’s so much more going on!

We hope all of you who have attended to our past events, such as the CCW Foundation Welcome, our UAL Freshers' Takeover XOYO party, and our UAL Freshers’ Takeover Roof Top Party, had an amazing and incredible time! 

We are also looking forward to the following:

Welcome to LCF - 25th September

We have organised loads of wonderful activities throughout day, since 10:00am until 4:30pm! There is going to be free food, free drinks, advice, job opportunities, the chance to meet amazing people, and face new challenges! You can’t miss this day! Check out everything that is going on here!

 UAL Freshers' Takeover O'Meara - 26th September

London's newest and a highly exclusive venue - no other university freshers events have taken place here before...EVER! Owned by Communion Records owner & Mumford & Sons band member Ben Lovett, OMEARA has hosted events such as Skeptas private Brit Award Afterparty and on the 26th, it’s your turn!

You can expect a night of extravagance with performances from the likes of from Pussy Palace - the 'all-girl run club where drag queens and rudeboys collide' - and other special guests we will be announcing in the upcoming days. This is sure to be the biggest UAL night of the festival; so do ensure you get your tickets in advance. More info here!

Welcome to Wimbledon - 26th September

You’ll have the imponderable joy of participating in a treasure hunt, use some of your artistic abilities, have dinner (for free!), a quiz, and much more! The day will start at 10:30am and will last until late in the evening! Check out all the information here!

Welcome to Camberwell - 28th September

Join the Students’ Union at Wilson Road to check out activities and creative opportunities that you can get involved in during your time at Camberwell. There will be freebies up for grabs and fun activities to take part in. Find more information here!

Welcome to Chelsea - 28th September

Fun activities, free food and drinks, more freebies! You’ll have the chance to explore the campus and local area as well as see our fantastic SU gallery exhibition! It will be an incredible day to join us and treat yourself to an adventure! Get more info here!

Welcome to CSM - 29th September

Get to know CSM and enjoy freebies, discounts, activities with Arts SU Sport & Societies, quizzes, live music, popcorn, screenings - yes, we’re going bananas! For more, have a look here!

UAL Freshers' Fair 2017 - 30th September

It's THE official UAL Freshers' Fair 2017 - and it's bigger and better than ever before! It will start at 10:00am at Central Saint Martins, and you can find more about it here!

Welcome to LCC - 4th October

We’ve got freebies, societies, local businesses, UAL support services, LCC Careers, Creative Opportunities, Stanley Kubrick Archive, workshops, talks, networking, drinks... are you really going to miss it?! Find out more here!

 UAL Freshers' Takeover MTV Finale - 6th October

As the UAL Freshers Festival comes to a close, we are excited to announce the takeover of MTV's Freshers Finale!  Expect two stages with headline music talent, supported by over 10 DJ's al night! The line up will be revealed soon and trust us when we say, THIS is the BIG one. Check it out here!

 We hope you have a fantastic Freshers’  Month! For more amazing stuff:

* Join our Official UAL Freshers’ 2017-18

* Keep an eye on our blog

* Follow us on Social Media! Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!

[arts-su]

Sorting out a UK phone number

Once you’ve settled into your new UK home, you’ll probably need to start thinking about getting your basics in order. Since we don’t use carrier pigeons and ravens, you’ll probably need to sort out a British line for your phone or get a whole new one! 

Whilst your old phone number might probably still work in the UK (not all do), you’ll need to change over to a British carrier pronto to avoid paying extortionate overseas usage charges. That doesn’t mean that you need to get a new phone though!

The cheapest way to switch to a UK provider is to have your current phone unlocked so it can recognise a SIM card from any carrier. There might be a charge for this service, but unless you want to buy a brand new phone it is probably your cheapest option. 

Next up, you need to decide on a UK network. There are loads of different phone companies in the UK and some of the most popular traditional services include: O2, EE (Previously known as Orange & T-Mobile before a company merger), Three, Vodafone and Virgin.

Look for SIM-only plans on any of those networks and you’re bound to get a good deal. If you go for buying a new phone you may find that unless you want to take on a 24 month contract, these phone networks are really not always ideal. The short term contracts can be really expensive, and good pay-as-you-go plans (yes that still exists) are rather limited.

Instead we would recommend giffgaff - a relatively new provider who specialize in contract-less mobile packages. giffgaff is great for those of us who are not sure for how long we’re going to be in the UK, or if you won’t be in the UK all year round. So you can just pay for the service during the months you are actually in the UK without being tied down for 2 years!

You can get your free giffgaff SIM - yes free! Once it arrives just activate it by following the simple instructions that come with it. You’ll then be able to choose one of giffgaff’s mobile plans called goodybags - which ever is best for you. 

Alternatively, you can top-up like it’s still 2002 and use that credit to call or send texts to other countries. This is actually quite cheap - for example calling a Spanish landline would cost you 2p per minute. You can check International call their prices for anywhere in the world!

That’s it. Enjoy keeping connected and meeting up with friends and family!

[arts-su-education-blog]

🎊 Liberate My Curriclum win 🎉

I’m really happy to say that following the liberate my curriculum campaign we launched last term UAL Libraries have bought a bunch of new books from and about artists & writers of colour, as well as women, LGBTQ+, disabled & international authors. They have also been doing a project through out the year on expanding and improving the diversity and range of books they offer which means that they’re investing a total of £3,500 into these new books!

There are some really ace titles on the list, from ‘Black & Postcolonial Feminisms in New Times’ by Heidai Safia Mizra to ‘Ship Shape’ by Audre Lorde to ‘Trans: A Memoir’ by Juliet Jacques to name a few

Thank you to all of you that wrote suggestions on the bookmarks & engaged in our campaign! ✨ This isn’t the end of it though - there will be more events as well as a conference on intersectionality in the curriculum next term so keep your eyes peeled on our social media, and weekly newsletter once term starts :)

Hope you’re all having a fab summer, and see you soon! 🌞

[arts-su]

Arts in London on the cheap

One of the perks of studying in London is the abundance of cultural events and institutions on offer, but although many are free some do come at a cost.

Fortunately, there are plenty of places that offer student discounts and freebies! Whilst this isn’t a comprehensive guide, it’s a good solution until you can star in your own reality TV show or find a genie that gives you free wishes. 🙌

The Barbican offers the Young Barbican which is available to 14-25 year olds. It gives members exclusive discounts and free tickets.

The National Theatre offers an Entry Pass, with benefits like £5 tickets and backstage tours, and discounts in the bookshop, bars and restaurants.

The Institute of Contemporary Arts offers a £10 student membership - offering free members screenings, £3 cinema tickets, discounts on talks and events, invitation to private views and much more.

It’s free to become a member of the Saatchi Gallery and you’ll receive invitations to preview days and members evenings.

The Design Museum offers an Access Membership for £28, or a Student Membership for £35. Obviously the benefits vary - but it depends how die-hard you are.

For free entry to over 240 museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK as well as 50% off entry to major exhibitions, you could get a National Art Pass. For £21.75 if you’re under 26, wit also includes a quarterly magazine.

If your passion for art and design crosses borders, you may be end up travelling  a lot. You might want to invest in an International Council Of Museums membership - which gives you free access to museums and exhibitions worldwide.

For all other discounts, from food to clothes, don’t forget the NUS Card!

[arts-su]

Freshers’ Guide: Living off campus

You might have heard that London is one of the loneliest cities in the UK. It might be; it’s big and busy and sometimes a bit faceless. And when you’re starting University but not living in halls - the whole thing can seem a bit more daunting.

But it doesn’t have to be. In fact, you could end up having an even better uni experience without the hassle and restrictions of halls.

In truth, living in private accommodation does mean you won’t meet the vast amount of other students on day one as you’d may have done in halls. And this means you’ll probably need to put in a bit more effort to expand your social circle. But don’t let that hold you back! We put together our top tips for UAL Freshers’ living in private accommodation.

✍🏽👀

1) Meet up with your course-mates outside of uni ☎️

Socialising at uni doesn’t stop in the classroom. Chances are you’re course-mates won’t be all in the same halls anyway, so make sure you go along to any out of class socials or meet-ups. It can be a little bit scary, but completely recommendable. Plus, once your course starts getting more demanding, you’ll really appreciate having that social group to fall back on.

2) Your social life doesn’t have to be dominated by uni 🕺🏽

If your flatmates are from outside of UAL, you will get to mingle with a completely different group of people which is great! As we all know, sometimes it’s cool to get some space from the arts crowd, so make the most of those other connections.

3) You can still be friends that live in halls 👫

Do your course-mates live in halls? Or people from your sports team or society? Get them to invite you over! UAL Accommodation has an awesome social programme (UAL Social) who put on parties and events. It sucks that these won’t be as accessable to you, but guests are always welcome. Make friends with people that live in halls and you’ll be able to take part too.

4) Join a club or society 🏆

Societies, creative communities and sporting activities are the best way to meet people at uni. If you’re into life drawing, join the life drawing society. Feminist and proud? Join Arts Fems. Stepping out of your comfort zone and going along to that first thing will be scary, but it will pay off in the long run. Most students who take part in sports and other activities at uni cite them as one of their favourite parts of their uni experience.

5) Make the most of unrestricted living 🏡

Sadly, halls of residence are always full of rules and restrictions. Good luck throwing that party till 4am without the security guy coming to tell you to keep it down. With flat inspections, signing in guests, and extortionate charges for new keys and swipe cards, 2nd year students are normally quite relieved once leaving halls considering the additional freedom private accommodation holds. Chances are you’ll have a bigger bedroom than those students in halls, and the luxury of personal space.

[arts-su]

Who to follow on Insta?!

Whether you’re an incoming fresher or an existing student, we’ve rounded up some of the best UAL related Instagrams you NEED to be following. Whether its for staying in the loop or whiling away those hours getting excited for September!

Arts SU - @artssulondon 

Obviously! 😜 We’ll keep you visually updated with exhibitions, events, societies and happenings in and around all UAL colleges, and student life in London. We also do #studenttakeovers on certain weeks throughout the year. Want to host? Just drop us a shout via our comms team!

Made In Arts London - @madeinartslondon 

Our very own Made in Arts showcases emerging artists and designers from UAL, and their work. It’s a good way to not only see what they’re exhibiting and selling in the shop but you can also stay up to date with their deadlines for submissions - you could sell your work through them!

1 Granary - @1granary 

A Central Saint Martins student-led magazine, posting behind the scenes  fashion, journalism and of course, Grayson Perry.  Here he is with Lauren Krischer, a winner of the Print project ‘Make a dress for Grayson Perry.’

UAL Sport - @ual_sport

Rep #TeamArts by following the Official UAL Sport feed - keeping you updated on what our talented teams are up to and events for you to get involved in ✌️

Others to look out for include:

CCW Foundation - @ccw_foundation_ual

Camberwell - @camberwellual

Chelsea - @chelseaual

Wimbledon - @wimbledonual

LCF - @lcflondon_

LCC - @lcclondon

CSM - @csmkids