As thousands of students descend on Parliament Square today to protest against tuition fee rises, many have also been staging sit-ins at universities and organising flash mobs across the city.
Last weekend, students at Goldsmiths College and UCL’s Slade School of Fine Art occupied campus buildings to demonstrate their anger at proposals they say will threaten the future of arts education in the UK. Colourful banners and flags were hung outside while lively debates continued indoors.
Perhaps the most visible activity to date was the picketing at the Tate Britain Gallery during the Turner Prize ceremony, where hundreds assembled to vent their frustration with the government’s attitude towards the arts funding.
On Tuesday, Arts & Cuts went to Royal College of Art’s Long Night to talk to students and teachers about their feelings and plans. Throughout the evening, people squeezed into the common room to participate in discussions and sign a petition addressed to Nick Clegg.
Conceptual artist Mark McGowan spoke first and offered his support. “This level of culture bashing is equivalent to book burning,” he said. An RCA lecturer agreed, “[This is] the most vicious ideological attack. It’s a system where you’re artistic only if you can afford it”.
Despite the sombre mood, people were hopeful that there would be strength in numbers. Organisers of the Slade Occupation shared advice (“students are the first wave, not the last”) and the duo behind Space Hijackers humorously recounted their adventures, including driving a tank into central London for the G20 summit.
Three students from Chelsea College of Art & Design explained how the movement was gaining momentum. They felt that art schools in the capital were quite fragmented, especially within the University of Arts London, but were noticing a growing sense of unity.
Noel Douglas, a professional graphic designer and programme leader at the University of Bedfordshire, gave a presentation on the history of grass-roots campaigns and encouraged students to be optimistic about the future. He told us why he believes art and design are fundamental to society:
At 11pm, students of the Royal College of Art voted in favour of occupation.
Arts & Cuts 