Arts Group

Kit Friend, Chair of the Arts Group, was elected as one of the Student Directors on the board of NUS Services Ltd (NUSSL) during their AGM this week.

‘NUS Services is owned by Students’ Unions and the National Union of Students. Our mission statement is to; ‘Create, develop and sustain competitive advantages for member Students’ Unions –reducing costs and maximising commercial revenues’ ‘ (nussl.co.uk).

Kit ran on the slogan “Get a Friend in a high place!” with the following areas of interest emphasised:

Relevant services for FE and non-traditional students.
• Support the changing needs of evolving unions.
• Making eco and ethical affordable!
• Encouraging collaboration between unions.
• A genuinely useful NUS Extra!

Founding chair of the Arts Group – a voice for small and specialist institutions and FE | Fighting the exploitation of work placements and internships | Supporting the campaign for fairer funding | Proven track record of leadership | Creative Director of the charity “With Feeling”

As part of the NUSSL board , Kit hopes to encourage a diversification of income to provide a better range of services and opportunities for a broader spectrum of students. In particular those who make up many of the Arts Group membership (small, specialist, FE etc.) need to be better served by our National Union’s commercial wing.

For more information about NUSSL visit www.nussl.co.uk

Carly Aslett of SUARTS delivers the summation of our motion “NUS Arts Representation and support for small and specialist students’ unions”

The Arts Group landed with a bang at NUS Annual conference as both our motions sailed through. You can look at pictures of the conference and find out about all the resolves by clicking here

Amongst other things our motions passing included mandates for the NUS around:

- Formal recognition of the Arts Group
- Responsibility for the Arts, and Small and Specialist Institutions to be allocated to members of the National Executive Committee (NEC)
- Support to work on our campaigns on Hidden Course Costs and Foundation Diplomas

The Arts Group Official Launch Party was well attended, with Aaron Porter (re-elected VPHE) delivering a stirring address, and liquid refreshment courtesy of the Art, Design, Media Subject Centre. We were please to see so many new potential members attend, and look forward to seeing more fresh faces at the next meeting.

Thanks to all for the hard work, and especially our speakers at Conference: Danny McNeice from Loughborough, Chris Griffin from the Courtauld Institute, and Carly Aslett from Arts London.

More updates on what we’re doing with our new support soon!

Hello all,

ahead of the mammoth update post-NUS Conference just a quick shoutout to say the coverage from the New Deal of the Mind meeting at Downing St is now up and running! Hear what was said (including my own statements) at the New Deal of the Mind website here

Kit Friend, Chair of the Arts Group

Kit Friend, Chair of the Arts Group, will be attending the New Deal of the Mind discussion at 11 Downing Street on 24th March to discuss how the creative industries plan to innovate their way out of the recession.

After a long day of debate, comprimise, and excitement the final shape of the agenda and motions for conference was decided by delegates to the NUS Compositing meeting at University of London Union (ULU). Amongst the many fantastic discussions we can look to have this year, the motions supported by the Arts Group – were bounced up the order thanks to strong support from the NUS leadership and other Unions (special thanks to Lincoln & Kings).

Watch this space for more news after next week’s NUS Annual Conference!