Creative Shift Connect To: Meet Up (22nd Oct 2026)

What's Connect To?

Each month during term time, we meet in person to hear from a guest industry speaker and catch up, connect and share our creativity.

We are a community who understand that taking steps to share your creative work and get paid isn't easy. When you join us, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions, shout out projects you’re working on and hear about more Creative Shift opportunities and events you can get involved with. We are always sharing tips and tricks to help you move forward, make money and find paid roles, to help bridge the gap between education and industry.

What to Expect?

Every Meet Up is from 5:30 - 8pm

• Check in
• Speaker's talk
• Q&A
• Speaker's workshop
• Group picture
• Check out
• Network

At our Meet Ups, speakers prepare workshops and activities to inspire your creative journey, learn new skills/ and connect whilst you make. This creates an opportunity for you to get to the know the speaker a bit more and network with each other.

Plus, we provide free food and drinks for you to enjoy too!

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER – Please Read Before Booking

This event is exclusively for UAL students and recent graduates (within 5 years).

Due to limited capacity and internal policies, we reserve the right to refuse entry if:

• You do not meet the eligibility criteria (see below)
• You have not confirmed attendance
• You display any rude or inappropriate behaviour towards staff, speakers, or attendees

As tickets are limited, we will be contacting attendees by email and text to confirm attendance prior to the day of the event.

If we do not hear back from you (either by text or email) by Monday 8th June, 12pm your place may be given to someone else, and you will not be admitted entry on the day.

If you've booked a ticket and no longer can attend either cancel or email d.phillipriley@arts.ac.uk

This helps us manage spaces and gives another student the chance to attend.

Who is this event for?

Creative Shift acknowledges the barriers that exist for students from underrepresented backgrounds in Higher Education and in the creative industries.

Our programme prioritises students from underrepresented backgrounds in Higher Education and in the creative industries. We work together to co-create spaces and projects that mirror the future of the creative industries and the diverse voices that will contribute to them.

In line with UAL's Access and Participation Plan, you must meet both of these requirements:

1) I am currently a Home (UK) student studying on an undergraduate degree course at UAL or graduated within the last 5 years.

And

2) One or more of the following statements apply to you:

• I am Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic (B.A.M.E.)* student
• I took part in the UAL Insights programme
• I am a Care Leaver (I have been in the Care system)
• I have a disability according to the Equality Act 2010
• My parent(s)/ guardian(s) have not completed a University Degree
• I have caring responsibilities (i.e I am a parent, or am the primary care giver for a child/children, disabled person/s or elderly family member for example)
• I recieve the UAL bursary as part of my student finance

*We note that this language is contested and different terminology is used in different contexts and places. However as the Higher Education sector, HESA and Census data uses the terminology B.A.M.E. we will continue to use this language at UAL. Please note that we will be considering our language and terminology on an ongoing basis. We will continue to reflect on sector language and best practice.

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Positionality (privilege/power): if you’re in a dominant identity please consider how you are making space for others in the space /if you are in a marginalised identity consider practicing taking up space with us.

Statement credit: Healing Justice Ldn (HJL), Community Agreements

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If you have any questions please contact creativeshift@arts.ac.uk

When's the next Meet Up?

This year we have 8 networking events, you're welcome to join as many as you like, we'd love to see you at all 8 but understand if for any reason you can't make it.

They're usually on the second Thursday of the month. All dates are included below:

1. Thurs 22 Oct 2026 @ CSM, C202
2. Tues 12 Nov 2026 @ CSM, C202
3. Thurs 10 Dec 2026 @ LCC
4. Thurs 14 Jan 2027 @ LCF
5. Thurs 11 Mar 2027 @ CSM
6. Thurs 15 Apr 2027 @ CSM
7. Thurs 13 May 2027 @ LCC, M404
8. Thurs 10 Jun 2027 @ tba

To keep up with us and find out first who our next speaker will be follow our Instagram @ual_creativeshift

FAQs:

I do not meet /only partially meet the eligibility criteria. Can I still apply? This programme is aimed at those that meet the eligibility criteria stated above. In some cases we do hold limited spaces for UAL students or graduates who do not meet this criteria. If you are unsure and would like to check this with us please contact us at creativeshift@arts.ac.uk and put the event title in the subject line.

Who can I contact about my access requirements? If you believe there are any barriers to your participation in this event, or you have any access requirements you wish to discuss, we are happy to talk to you. Please contact us in advance by emailing creativeshift@arts.ac.uk and put the title of the event as the subject line.

Any other questions please do get in touch with us at creativeshift@arts.ac.uk