Nominations: Nominations closed
Voting: Voting closed
Election
Read about what the Arts Officer is responsible for.
If you have any questions about this position, please contact [email protected].
Category
Candidates
Sakshi Runwal
(She/her)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I am a confident leader who takes initiative to address issues and is able to lead discussion to solve problems efficiently. Having experience as president, I have managed regular activities and organised many large events, and I am currently serving as vice president of a charity auction that is scheduled to take place at the end of the year. Execution of such projects requires excellent organisation and attention to detail, skills that would make me a valuable first point of contact for ambitious art society initiatives. This gives me a unique perspective, perfect for this role.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
If elected, my goal is to ease the burden and reduce stress for presidents and event officers when managing art societies. Despite the fact that art societies draw similar audiences, I have not seen many significant joint events between them. Additionally, I've witnessed a decline in involvement throughout the second term, which could be related to fewer socials and reduced organisation. I think that cooperative events would be the most effective approach to sustaining interest throughout the year as opposed to simply the first few weeks.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Having been president or art society, I have first-hand experience of the challenges faced by the art societies part of the student union. From small issues like difficulties booking rooms that accommodate for specific activities to managing larger scale events, like shows and exhibitions. Art societies at UCL should have a champion for their concerns. A well-organized individual who understands the diverse backgrounds and perspectives within arts societies to create an inclusive environment where all members feel valued and engaged.
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Margaret (Mars) Cheung
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Though I was on a year abroad this year, I have been actively involved in artsUCL since I was a fresher. As former Treasurer of Drama Soc (2022 – 2023) and having attended all Activities Zone meetings, I’m highly familiar with both the inner workings of the UCLSU and the needs of society committee members. Furthermore, I was also an active participant in various societies such as Live Music, Musical Theatre, Film Societies etc. My long-time commitment to the arts and my experience, along with deep understanding of the arts scene makes me an ideal candidate for the position.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Having started artsUCL as a fresher with minimal experience, I hope to create an environment as inclusive and welcoming as the one I’ve first stepped into. Here are my goals if elected
- Lowering the barrier of entry by encouraging workshops and classes, and fresher and beginner-friendly events in societies
- Increasing diversity and inclusion in creative spaces, as diversity in the arts translates to a wider range of stories being told
- Further external outreach for professional opportunities for student creatives, as I believe the level of talent showcased could be better advertised.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
Having attended and stood on the 2023 Arts Awards Stage for Drama Soc, I remembered being awed by the sheer amount of talent, and honoured to be part of it. artsUCL has been an integral part of my student life, and I hope to give back in an official capacity. As a former committee member and student representative, not only do I have the necessary experience for the role, I’m also used to liaising between and with the SU and societies. Being passionate and committed, if elected, I would use these qualities towards ensuring that artsUCL would be even more inclusive and welcoming to students.
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Ava Potter
(she/her)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
Having been a dedicated member of Drama Society and Workshops Officer for the last 2 years, I’ve spent my time trying to improve the accessibility to the arts – leading weekly workshops and creating a Monologue Festival open to all students, which this year will be held in the Bloomsbury Theatre. I have lots of experience and therefore understanding of arts, having worked in West End and BBC productions. I would now love to dedicate this to improving the accessibility and experience of students in arts societies, and see deeper creative collaboration to create a stronger Arts Community at UCL.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
Collaborate with Arts societies and members to enhance participation and accessibility, creating a deeper sense of inclusive community and collaboration by:
- Working with the SU and Head of Arts to create more workshop and training opportunities for members wanting to work on and develop their craft.
- Develop resources to untangle complexities/perceptions of arts societies to increase their accessibility, being more transparent for members.
- Work closely with societies to create opportunities to celebrate diversity and inclusion at artsUCL.
- Enable regular feedback by artsUCL members.
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
UCL's rich art community is full of incredible talent, highlighted by annual arts projects and alumni. My aim as Arts Officer would be to create a community that focuses on development and the creative process, whereby students can leave UCL having learnt and worked on their craft or even found new passions to take away. I'm an active member in arts societies and love seeing the work members produce, therefore if you vote for me I would be an advocate for artsUCL, promoting greater opportunity, quality, collaboration and inclusion as Arts Officer.
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Shria Jindal
(she/they )
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
With a diverse background of experience in various arts societies, like UCL Drama, Shakespeare, Film, Stage Crew, and Musical Theatre, I offer invaluable insights and honed skills. Through active participation in over 10 festivals and productions of all scales, I've gained a profound understanding of the inner workings of arts societies, making me equipped to fulfill the responsibilities that come with this role. I deeply appreciate the dedication and hard work of behind the scenes and am committed to creating an enriching, and inclusive experience for all members of the ArtsUCL community.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
If elected, I aim to increase participation within, and recognition of ArtsUCL
I wish to
- Foster inclusivity: Create engaging and inclusive participation opportunities catering to all levels and areas of the arts through professional workshops and events
- Improve venue accessibility: Advocate for easier and more affordable access to UCL spaces like the IOE for performances and events
- Expand networking opportunities: Forging collaborations with other universities' arts communities for enhanced learning and networking; foster growth and establish ArtsUCL as a widely recognised community
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
ArtsUCL has given me a sense of purpose, and belonging I always yearned for at university. Serving as Arts Officer would enable me to give back and contribute to the continuous growth and enhancement of ArtsUCL. With the privilege of collaborating closely with talented individuals across various arts societies, I possess a network enabling me greatly to represent the ArtsUCL collective community. I have genuine passion and sincerity towards my work and am committed to fostering an incredible space and journey within ArtsUCL, which will celebrate and uplift our diversity, talent and creativity
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Ashley New
(she/her)
What will you bring to this role (e.g. experience, skills or qualities)?
I’ve been an active member of the arts community for the past three years across a wide range of societies, including Musical Theatre, Drama, Live Music, Jazz and Dance. In 2023-24, I served as Performance Art Rep, working with the Arts Officer, Arts and Media Coordinator and Head of Arts to promote involvement in artsUCL. Since 2021, I've performed in seven Blooms shows (most recently Rhapsody 2024 & The Producers (2024)) and numerous smaller productions, assistant-directed (Little Brogues (2024)), and served on the committee of MT and Drama Society, organising events and boosting outreach.
What do you hope to achieve in the role if you are elected?
1. Boost involvement
- Bridge the gap between entry and expert level participation - work with societies and the Union to create regular training for skill development, or low-commitment opportunities to get involved (e.g. one-off class passes)
- Increase accessibility of bidding e.g. Blooms/garage bids, making processes more transparent by providing training on how to bid shows, expectations and considerations
2. Strengthen identity
- Centralised arts hub collating all arts opportunities across major arts and smaller (e.g. cultural) societies
- Inter-society collaboration and networking
Please summarise why students should vote for you.
I'd like to spend my final year giving back to a community that has brought so much joy to my life at UCL. Over the past three years, I have accrued a thorough, ground-up understanding of how processes work in artsUCL, collaborating with countless individuals and organisations both within UCL and externally. As such, apart from experience and understanding of how to enact change at higher levels, I am well-connected at both the level of the student body and the arts sector of the Union, putting me in a position to work with the relevant individuals who can deliver effective change.
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