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Post-Grad PhD Mixer: Featuring Subcultures Interest Group

food laid across a branded post-grad community tablecloth
  • Written byKat Newman
  • Published date 29 February 2024
food laid across a branded post-grad community tablecloth
Post-Grad Community PhD Mixer at UAL's Doctoral School, 2024, High Holborn, UAL | Photograph: Kat Newman

Post-Grad Community Ambassador Kat Newman ( MA Fine Art, Central Saint Martins, 2025) reports back on the recent mixer for PhD and MRes students held by Post-Grad Community at the brand new Doctoral School, recently opened at UAL's High Holborn site.

On Friday 23 February 2024, PhD Candidates gathered to mingle and connect at the PhD Mixer.

Organised by the Post-Grad Community, the mixer was the first post-grad community event to be held at the new Doctoral Space, High Holborn. With drinks and food, the mixer was a welcoming space to learn about Post Grad Interest Groups.

students in the doctoral school teaching space
Post-Grad Community PhD Mixer at UAL's Doctoral School, 2024, High Holborn, UAL| Photograph: Kat Newman

There was a wonderful presentation from PhD researchers Kevin Quinn and Tim Gibney about their well established and successful Post Grad Subcultures Interest Group (or SIG for short).

Established in 2019, SIG is an informal collective of students, graduate and staff whose research centres on youth subcultures related to music, fashion, style, and politics. It was great to hear about the breadth of interests within the group ranging from be-pop Jazz to glam rock, punk, post-punk, skateboarding, digital online communities and so many more!

Kevin and Tim spoke passionately about the connections (dare we even say friendships) and opportunities which have arisen by connecting with others who share similar interests.

Moreover, hearing about the external collaborations SIG have been part of, such as hosting a short film event at LCC as part of the Doc’ n Roll Film Festival, was very inspiring. It is evident that the group is welcoming and lively with regular meetings that can take the form of reading groups, seminars and workshops focusing on different subcultures.

SIG even produces a free newspaper style publication called SIG News.

newspaper front cover punk fashion
SIG News Issue 1 | Design Direction: Subcultures Interest Group (SIG), Subcultures Interest Group: SIG News 1
newspaper front cover punk fashion
SIG News Issue 2 | Design Direction: Subcultures Interest Group (SIG), Subcultures Interest Group: SIG News 2

At the event, PhD students talked amongst themselves and with Post-Grad Community Manager Rachael Lakhan about their ideas for setting up their own interest groups and what they would like to get out of the groups. Rachael also provided information on how Post-Grad Community can support interest groups with marketing, event planning and documentation.

It certainly seems there will be some new and exciting interest groups enriching the UAL post-grad community – watch this space.

If you are interested in setting up a Post-Grad Interest Group, you can find the set up guide on the Post-Grad Interest Group page. Or you can simply get in touch with an existing one and go along to one of their meets!

Related Links

UAL Post-Grad Community

Established in 2013, Post-Grad Community is an inclusive platform for all UAL postgraduate students to share work, find opportunities and connect with other creatives within the UAL and beyond. Find out more.