By Erica Elliott.
A petition for a permanent art studio in DCU has been launched by Climate Action Society and Art Society in response to the denial of their proposal by the Office of Student Life.
Chairperson of the Climate Action Society, Zuzanna first toyed with the idea of an art studio after she had been on Erasmus, and had “so clearly noticed there isn’t any space for the arts”.
What first started “as an idea out of the art room”, Chairperson of the Art Society Irina spoke to The Bulletin stating that they “had contacted the Office of Student Life, Marcella and Úna for a permanent space”.
After pitching this proposal, which began in March, Zuzanna said they had communicated back and forth, before being told “DCU can’t give Arts and Societies a place for themselves”.
She felt this was “frustrating because it’s not just for the Arts and Societies. It’s for the student body”, but she understood that they didn’t have space.
Úna Redmond, Director of Student Life and Marcella Bannon, Cultural Arts Officer for DCU Arts and Culture were asked for comment.
They responded stating they both are “extremely supportive of the initiative that Zuzanna and her committee have displayed and are supportive of their efforts to promote arts and crafts in DCU”.
“I was quite clear that the possibility of a permanent space in the U was not viable, as all the space in there is a multi-purpose space and cannot be designated for one club or society”.
This is in exemption to the purpose-built radio for DCUFM which is located in the U.
Úna said with over 140 clubs and societies, there “simply isn’t the capacity” for a permanent art space in DCU.
“We did undertake to work with them to provide storage for their equipment, which they could use weekly [at least] in one of the bookable areas in the U”.
They said while they have no jurisdiction over other spaces on campus, they will continue to support their request to the university for a more permanent space.
Activities officer from the Climate Action Society in DCU, Celia voiced her concerns about the absence of an art space for students in DCU, and said there’s “nowhere to actually work”, and it would “be great for students everywhere”.
Irina from the Art Society mentioned that while there is an engineering common room, “artistic needs are never catered for”.
After discovering no progress had been made, Zuzanna decided to create this petition, and in collaboration with The Art Society, DJ Society, and DCU Student Union, began to promote their guerilla art room, which was filled with different activities throughout the day.
Their first event took place from 12 to 6pm on Wednesday the 14th of January and was set up “to show people what they are missing out on”.
This guerilla art room involved many different workshops, hosted by different societies, ranging from drawing, learning how to sew, crafting, and more, which took place in The Hive in DCU.
The event schedule included Tote bag painting with the Students’ Union, learning to draw nature and animals, a DJ society takeover, a sustainable living sewing workshop with the Climate Action Society, and clay charm making with the Art Society.
Zuzanna started this petition as a “tangible way” to show DCU how important an art studio is to students, and “they’re hoping to get as much publicity as possible to show DCU Management”.
“There’s been a lot of research in art in relation to learning. Everyone can benefit from art…especially with DCU championing things like creativity”.
At the moment, Zuzanna is hoping to turn the vacated sheds in the community garden into an art space for students.
“I think creating them into an art room, not just for drawing, but for making stuff”.
The DCU Art Society and Climate Action Society shared a post to their Instagram stating they are aiming to transform these unused sheds “into a creative space, where students can explore and create, whether that is painting, sewing, woodworking, or something new entirely”.
