Arts against the cuts

Our student friends at Leeds University against the cuts have arranged a cultural evening against the cuts tonight, Wednesday 03 March,19:30-23:00 in the Riley Smith Hall in Leeds University Union.

The group describe the event on their website:

“Higher Education is being attacked. The £915 million that the government is threatening to cut from the HE budget would, in the words of our Vice Chancellor, will ‘have a devastating effect […] on students and staff’. Leeds UCU have been driven to strike in fear of losing their jobs.

But instead of just getting angry, theScribe Magazine (in association with Leeds University Against Cuts) is hosting a night of music, theatre, comedy, poetry, art and photography – creative arts in general. There will be performances and exhibitions from all kinds of students, societies and guests. We will come together in our opposition to cuts.

We are not alone in doing this. Hull and Sussex are putting on sister nights, and the National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts has agreed to put them on as well. We are part of a broader movement that insists on being heard – and Leeds is the place that is getting this kind of event rolling across the country.

Acts confirmed so far:

Poetry from members of theScribe magazine.
Acoustic folk from members of FolkSoc.
Stand up comedy.
Music from:

Danny and the Lost Souls- Getting you on your feet with soul, funk and rock ‘n’ roll.

Cables Cause Fires- Indie rock to get your feet tapping and your heads rocking.

Blue Wickeds- Bradford-based post-punk rock and rollers.

Elijah at Sea- Leeds uni based folk-rock sea shanty singalongs.”

UCU are pleased to see this kind of event as part of a broad, national student movement of organised anger against the government’s threat to HE provision.