We are dedicated to supporting sanctuary seekers as part of our mission to become a Social Purpose university. This commitment is deeply rooted in our belief that education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their circumstances.
We recognise the vital role that creativity and the arts play in fostering understanding, empathy, and social change.
Our commitment to sanctuary seekers builds on the work already being done by our staff and students.
Across our campuses, members of the UAL community have been actively involved in initiatives to support those seeking sanctuary, raising awareness of their unique needs. This includes:
- Partnerships: Collaborating with organisations that provide resources and support for sanctuary seekers, helping to bridge gaps and offer comprehensive support.
- Research: Conducting studies and projects that highlight the experiences of sanctuary seekers, informing better practices and policies both within and beyond UAL.
- Community engagement: Participating in outreach programmes and initiatives that promote inclusivity and provide practical support to sanctuary seekers in our local communities.
- Social Purpose: Ensuring that our efforts to support sanctuary seekers are aligned with our broader mission of social responsibility and purpose-driven education.
Sanctuary Teaching and Learning
A twinning agreement with the National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture (NAFAA) in Kyiv enables shared learning, ideas, and resources between UAL and NAFAA.
The collaboration is primarily led by 3 UAL Colleges:
- Camberwell College of Arts
- Chelsea College of Arts
- Wimbledon College of Arts
These Colleges are in discussion to engage Fine Art and Photography students at UAL and their counterparts in Kyiv.
Read more about 'Twinning with The National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture'.
At LCC, the Refugee Journalism Project supports refugee and exiled journalists in restarting their careers in the UK through training, mentorship, and industry connections.
Also at LCC, the Refugee Transition Network builds an international network of stakeholders and researchers exploring Transition Design and the concept of the city as commons to inform future approaches to urban refugee management.
Additionally at LCC, the Transition Living Lab involves MA Service Design students from 3 higher education institutions working together to co-create design interventions that train migrants and refugees to become change-makers in their communities.
The project will conclude with a planned exhibition at the Barbican in July 2025.
As part of LCC’s BA (Hons) Photojournalism and Documentary Photography curriculum, students collaborate with refugee organisations to create socially engaged documentary work.
At LCF, the MA Fashion, Textiles, and Technology and the MSc Strategic Fashion Management have now integrated projects and collaborations with refugees in the Zaatari (Jordan), Dzaleka (Malawi), and Maratane (Mozambique) refugee camps.
Furthermore, the Fashion Practices for Social Change unit is a multidisciplinary elective bringing together students from diverse MA courses to explore the intersection of fashion, activism and global impact.
At the UAL School of Pre-Degree Studies, students in Fashion, Textiles, and 3D Design collaborate with the refugee charity Espero Atelier to showcase refugee stories through fashion, textiles and accessories. Exhibitions and catwalk shows take place in Paris, Milan, Athens and Sarajevo. Espero Atelier trains refugees in Paris to work in couture houses and fund their own label through grants and industry collaborations.
Sanctuary Research
At CSM, the Afterall Research Centre publishes research, programming, and critical writing on contemporary art and its societal impact. Issue 57 of the Afterall Journal, Palestine and the World, focuses on Palestinian art and visual culture as a form of resistance.
At LCC, Visible Justice is a transdisciplinary research hub based in the Media School. It serves as a platform for artists, activists, writers, journalists, photographers, filmmakers and human rights lawyers working at the intersection of visual culture and social justice.
The network particularly addresses issues of systemic exclusion, including the experiences of refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced people.
Learn more about the Visible Justice Research Hub.
Also at LCC, Photography students work with the Imperial War Museum Archive as part of The Live Brief, developing creative responses to contemporary and historical conflict narratives. Live brief partners in 2024–25 include Amnesty International and BA (Hons) Film and Screen Studies students.
Sanctuary Knowledge Exchange
Across UAL, the ELIA UAX Platform connects the University with a global network for higher arts education. UAL is the first UK university to hold ‘Supporting Member’ status in ELIA, which includes over 285 members in 54 countries, providing opportunities for international professional exchange and development.
At LCC, Sanctuary in Politics is a collaboration with City of Sanctuary, offering an 8-week training course for people with lived experience of displacement. The Media School helps participants develop advocacy campaigns that promote positive representations of refugees in UK media.
Also at LCC, an ongoing partnership with the Imperial War Museum, formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding in 2022, has led to multiple knowledge exchange, research, and community engagement projects. These focus on people's experiences of war, the causes of conflict and its impact on lives.
At LCF, Vital Signs builds on Professor Helen Storey’s seven-year experience as UNHCR Designer in Residence at Zaatari Refugee Camp, Jordan. The project explores the intersection of design, science and humanitarian work.