In May, we welcomed University of the Arts London (UAL) graduates to the UAL x Great Bowery event in New York. Alumni from across all six of our Colleges attended the event as well as prospective students who will be joining UAL in September.



The event was held in the New York headquarters of Great Bowery, where guests enjoyed drinks and nibbles, as well as the opportunity to look around the beautiful space.


Liz Sands, CEO of Great Bowery, welcomed guests and gave an introduction to company and the creative work they do there.

Nigel Carrington, UAL Vice Chancellor then thanked the UAL East Coast Alumni Committee for all their work and encouraged graduates to chat to the committee or UAL when they ever travel back to London. He also gave an update on news from across the university, and encouraged everyone to share their stories and celebrate their time at UAL together.


After the speeches, guests were invited to take part in a life-drawing lesson, led by Central Saint Martins (CSM) alumnus Patrick Vale; anyone who wanted to have a go had a short time to draw the life model in a variety of different poses. There was also an exhibition of Patrick’s work where guests could have a close look at his freehand urban landscapes, which add a new dimension to the world’s iconic cityscapes.



Without the support and dedication of alumni volunteers on the UAL East Coast Alumni Committee, UAL wouldn’t be able to provide our international communities with regular opportunities to network, share job opportunities, take part in creative projects and make friends in a city or region they might be new to. This event was a chance for our local Committee to hear from anyone interested in playing a bigger part in its future by offering to also volunteer or step forward with ideas for future activities. If you are interested in getting more involved in the US East Coast Alumni Committee please email Caroline Archer (c.archer@arts.ac.uk) for more information.

