Over 100 alumni and friends attended the Pre 2000s alumni gathering at Camberwell College of Arts last Tuesday, 13 February. Many of the guests had lost touch with Camberwell and the Alumni Association over the years, and were invited (by request of the alumni team) by old classmates and colleagues as a way for UAL to get back in contact with these graduates, and to include them in future alumni activities.
On arrival, guests were greeted with a welcome drink at the impressive newly refurbished Camberwell building on Peckham Road. Amanda Jenkins, Associate Dean of Camberwell, welcomed alumni back to the College, and in particular, those who UAL had lost touch with over the years. She also spoke about the positive impact the new part of the building is having on the students and local community, and that she hopes the alumni will stay in touch and take future opportunities to be involved in UAL activities.
Kelly Chorpening leading a tour of ‘A History of Drawing at Camberwell’
The alumni then enjoyed a tour of A History of Drawing at Camberwell, the exhibition currently showing at Camberwell Space, the public facing gallery at the College. The tours were led by the Curator of the exhibition, Kelly Chorpening, who is also Course Director of BA (Hons) Drawing there. Guests were also offered the chance to take a look around the new building, as well as go back to their old classrooms to see what has (and hasn’t!) changed over the years.
Guest Graham Smith enjoying a tour of the Camberwell building
The event was a great opportunity for alumni who hadn’t seen each other in years to reunite. Some of the guests even brought along some of their student work for us to look at. This photo is of Carol Cooper and Paul Cox, from the class of 1979, with a painting that Carol had painted of Paul in their first year of study.
Carol Cooper and Paul Cox, Camberwell alumni (1979)
We would like to thank everyone who was involved in the event, and look forward to meeting the alumni again at future UAL events.