MSL Membership System Events

Terrariums, Boxing and Graphic Design - Free Terrarium Workshop (14/05/2026, 16:30)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 19:09:51 +0100

Join us in welcoming Kington Graduate Ben Irish as part of the "SANKOFA : From Studio to Industry Relational Networking" Series. You'll build a miniature terrarium and network with like-minded UAL students in the LCC Darkroom Bar.

“I grew up surrounded by plants, forests, and farms and then I moved to London to study graphic design at Kingston University. There, I discovered London gardens are rare, and even if you pay your landlord's mortgage, you can only grow grass. So I started to build terrariums in jars, small ecosystems with their own moss, water cycle, plants and microfauna. I find the process very relaxing and the outcome incredibly rewarding. I wanted to share that feeling so I gifted terrariums to friends and eventually began holding workshops teaching others how to build and care for their own terrariums.” - Benjamin Irish

We asked Ben what lessons he'd learnt and what he wants to share and communicate with our students. He said :

"Creative jobs are very competitive. You have to be talented, hard-working and willing to work for free. To give up most of your creative freedom, values and emotional connection to work. The best way to be paid fairly is to cut out middlemen. If the job for you doesn’t exist, then make it. Identify who you are, what you enjoy how that is valuable and how you can market it. Your creativity is unique and innately valuable, you can create new art but also new ideas, concepts and businesses."

His Social Media pages : Instagram - @boxingpov Website

Rooted, Not Rendered (07/05/2026, 17:00)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:05:08 +0100

Rooted, Not Rendered

PRIVATE VIEW: Thursday 7th May, 5pm - 7pm

EXHIBITION: 8th May - 15th June 2026

WHERE: SU Project Space, CSM, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AA (access details below)

An exhibition to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month.

Rooted, Not Rendered is a student-led exhibition presented as part of South Asian Heritage Month at Arts SU, bringing together work from across UAL by Noor Ahmad, Mihad Ali, Ishita Jhunjhunwala, Hafsah Ali Awan, Reeya Rene Rajpal, Sujevan Ravikumar, Ananya Krishna, Anshika Agrawal, Rajlaxmi Rathore, Muhammad Ayan Achakzai and Gauri Srivastava, responding to South Asian identity, memory and diaspora.

The exhibition explores how South Asian histories and lived experiences are often aestheticised, commodified and simplified, and instead creates space for practices that are grounded in lived experience, cultural depth and critical reflection. Through a range of disciplines and approaches, the works on display reflect the complexity and plurality of South Asian identities today.

From personal narratives to collective histories, Rooted, Not Rendered resists singular representation and instead highlights the layered realities of migration, belonging and cultural memory. The exhibition brings together student voices that challenge how identity is framed and invites viewers to engage with work that is rooted, embodied and self-defined.

There will also be a host of South Asian societies sharing artefacts from the culture and space for community! We also have Akankshya Padhi from LCC who will present Pallavi - a visual interpretation of Raag Chayanat through Odissi dance.

Time

Gallery opening hours: 9am - 9pm

Location

Arts SU Project Space

Central Saint Martins

University of the Arts London, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AA

Tickets

Free (Open to UAL students and general public) - Please book using link above.

Accessibility

This event will take place in the SU Project Space at:

Central Saint Martins, University of the Arts London, 1 Granary Square, Kings Cross, N1C 4AA

All UAL students are welcome to join. Please bring your UAL ID to enter the building (alternatively, a temporary pass can be requested from the front desk on arrival).

External Guests can book tickets to the Private View through the ticket link provided and sign in at a desk which will be set up outside the barriers.

For public transport suggestions and accessibility info, please visit CSM's 'Find Us' page.

Directions to the Exhibition: This exhibition will take place in the SU Project Space, which is on the first floor next to the library, and outside the Arts SU office.

All entrances to the building are at ground level with step-free access. Lifts and accessible toilets are available on all floors. Full access and route guides to Central Saint Martins are available on AccessAble. A toilet block, including an accessible toilet, is located in the same area on the first floor, and signage is available. If you need any reasonable adjustments to attend and participate in this event, please do get in touch with us via: artsprogramme@su.arts.ac.uk

Odissi Dance Performance (22/05/2026, 18:00)

Thu, 30 Apr 2026 10:39:15 +0100

Akankshya Padhi is an Odissi dancer with over sixteen years of training under Guru Madhavi Mudgal, performing both as a solo practitioner and as a touring member of her Guru’s critically acclaimed ensemble. She understands Odissi as a convergence of Indian aesthetic traditions, where poetry, music, ancient sculpture, and practice meet in the dancing body. Akankshya holds a Madhyama Purna diploma with distinction from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya and has been recognised as an artist with Doordarshan since 2023. She says:

Indian classical dance carries a dense cultural and artistic context. Forms such as Odissi are not merely systems of movement for performance; they emerge from centuries of poetry, music, sculpture, philosophy, and ritual. To practice Odissi is to enter a rich aesthetic universe already imbued with meaning, structure, and depth.

Today, however, classical dance often enters spaces where it is expected to prove its relevance. Performers are encouraged to incorporate contemporary themes or create visually dramatic works to “reach wider audiences.” While such approaches can open new conversations, they also risk simplifying the form’s complexity. When focus shifts toward spectacle or immediate accessibility, the nuanced histories and layered aesthetics of the tradition can be diluted, sometimes leading to appropriation within contemporary works that reference classical vocabulary. What is slow, subtle, and layered is compressed into something quick and easily readable.

My practice resists this pressure to fit in. I focus on the internal logic of the form, attending to gesture, rhythm, and stillness, allowing its depth to unfold through sustained practice. I am interested in sharing this perspective during South Asian Heritage Month at UAL through a short performance that highlights the larger context, aesthetic richness, and enduring legacy of Indian classical dance forms.

Showing UP and Showing OUT (05/05/2026, 17:00)

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 14:52:27 +0100

Monica and Melody will be discussing the benefit of staying true to who you are and showing up authentically, especially in academic institutions.

UAL x UCL Summer Party! (27/05/2026, 17:30)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 15:28:00 +0100

UAL x UCL are teaming up once again, this time for an unforgettable summer garden party by the canal!

Join us outdoors for laid-back beer garden vibes at Jim & Tonic, where you can soak up the sunshine, enjoy great music, and connect with students from both universities in a relaxed, open-air setting.

Event Information:

📅 Wednesday 27 May 2026 17:30 to 21:30

📌 Jim & Tonic East

2 Danes Yard, London E15 2QL

Expect an evening filled with:

🍹 1x drink token (redeemable for cocktails, beer, mixers, OR a selection of non-alcoholic drinks)

🎶 Live music

🎯 Classic garden games for a bit of friendly competition

🔮 Tarot Card readings

🌿 A beautiful Canalside setting

Plus:

🍴 Exclusive 20% off all food available at the venue - Jim & Tonic Food Menu.

Only purchase a UAL ticket if you are a UAL student; UCL students can purchase tickets here - UCL x UAL Summer Party! | Students Union UCL

Whether you're coming to chill, mingle, or make the most of summer evenings in London, this is the perfect chance to bring together the UAL & UCL community for a night of great vibes and even better company.

PLEASE NOTE: This event is strictly 18+, so please bring valid photo ID in case you are asked to verify your age under the Challenge 25 policy. Acceptable forms of ID include a passport, driving licence, or national identity card.

Wheelchair accessible - Yes

Family friendly - No

Organising for Rep Power: Online Skills Development workshop (13/05/2026, 14:30)

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:31:41 +0100

This interactive online workshop is a chance to build practical skills in community organising and campaigning in a supportive environment, through discussion, activities and exercises, with no prior experience needed.

The session will be led by Rod O’Donnell (Arts SU's Campaigns and Community Organiser) and supported by Lee Anderson (Arts SU's Education Quality Coordinator) from Arts SU.

The workshop will help you build on the skills you've already developed as a Course Rep, and enable to take them into spaces and communities beyond university, including:

Learning how to turn ideas into action through organising, mobilising and advocacy
Building confidence in communication through one-to-one conversations and relationship-building
Developing teamwork and leadership skills through collective decision-making and negotiation
Understanding how to navigate meetings, influence discussions and represent others effectively

These are the kinds of skills that can serve you well in all kinds of areas, including campaigning, advocacy and social impact work, or any role that involves collaborating with people, communities and driving change.

No preparation is needed. The workshop is FREE and exclusively for Course Reps. After signing up, you’ll receive a Teams link and joining details at least 48 hours before the session.

If you have any questions, get in touch with Lee at coursereps@su.arts.ac.uk

Please note: Skills development sessions are extracurricular and should not take priority over your scheduled classes.

SAVE THE DATE: Cycle Safety Event with Dr Bike (26/05/2026, 11:00)

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 15:24:24 Z

SAVE THE DATE: Bring Your Bike In for a FREE Safety Check + Basic Repairs by Bikeworks Dr Bike

As part of the Student Basic Needs Project’s ongoing work to make travel and transportation more affordable and accessible for students, we have partnered with Bikeworks to provide FREE Dr Bike Sessions to UAL students. SAVE THE DATE for our last Cycle Safety Event of the 2025-26 academic year from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, location to be confirmed soon, where experienced Bikeworks mechanics will conduct a full check of your cycle and carry out minor repairs on site for FREE!

For any repairs that require a bit more work, the mechanics will give detailed advice on exactly what needs fixing and roughly how much it should cost at a local bike shop. The event is open to all UAL students. No registration is required. Just turn up in good time and queue!

Location: The Crossing at CSM (right in front of CSM bike lockers)
Date: Wednesday, 26 May 2026
Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Learn more about Dr Bike here: https://www.bikeworks.org.uk/dr-bikes/Dr-Bikes/#1737632071119-b3aab0b7-a6c6

SAVE THE DATE: Free Food Market #4 (27/05/2026, 13:30)

Tue, 27 Jan 2026 12:07:42 Z

SAVE THE DATE: We're Back For the Final Free Food Market of the ACADEMIC YEAR!

Join us for the last Free Food Market of the 2025-26 academic year! Don't worry – this won't be the last time you'll see us. We have plenty in store for the 2026-27 academic year and can't wait to host more Free Food Markets and so much MORE! Now overseen by the Student Basic Needs Project, the Free Food Markets are open to all UAL students and are here to support with food and essentials, while also helping reduce the stigma surrounding food insecurity and accessing food support.

Location: TBC (check back soon for a confirmed location!)
Date: Wednesday, 27 May 2026
Time: 1:30pm – 3:00pm (or earlier, if food runs out): Open to all UAL students (first come, first served)

In the meantime, save the date for this market, which will feature an increased range of fresh produce (fruit and veg, based directly on your survey feedback in June 2025), as well as a variety of non-perishable goods. Please bring your own shopping bag!

Cass Art Prize 2026 (18/03/2026, 14:00)

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:25:15 Z