UAL students have been organising and campaigning for decades to make UAL a more inclusive and equitable place as well as to resist the marketisation of their education.
At Arts SU, we want to continue to highlight this history to inspire you to get involved.
Some highlights include:
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In 1988, Arts SU supported a 10-day student occupation at Camberwell College of Arts against overcrowded studios, understaffing and overstretched technicians.
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In 2009 LCC students occupied the building to protest largescale course closures and job cuts.
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Throughout November and December of 2010, UAL students joined thousands of other students on the streets of London and across the UK to stand against proposed cuts to further education and the rise of tuition fees.
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In 2013 students started the ‘The Devil Pays Nada’ Campaign to pushback on UAL's promotion of unpaid internships. Over 2000 students engaged in the campaign resulting in a protest outside London Fashion week and a debate in parliament. As a result of the campaign, UAL made a commitment to stop advertising unpaid internships on their website.
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More recently in 2024 students used their degree shows to stand in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and protest UAL's complicity with Israel through partnerships with companies such as L'Oréal.
We believe the Union can once again play a key role in supporting powerful student campaigns at UAL.