Future of Bar, Venue and Ents at Goldsmiths Students’ Union

As a Students’ Union constantly changing and adapting to the needs and wants of its student body we never stand still, nor should we. This year we are radically changing how we run our venue, ents programme and bar. 

 

This is for numerous reasons, namely:

1) We’ve had a clear message from the college that they won’t continue to fund an alcohol-heavy, commercially non-sustainable ents programme.

2) Low turnout to SU-run events (even for Club Sandwich nights).

3) Negative feedback on our ents programme from our members. 

4) Massive decline in bar sales - sales have fallen by a third in the last two years leading to the bar running a massive deficit that we cannot continue to withstand without making cuts to other services (advice, campaigns, democracy, activities etc).  Our accounts for 2013-14 show that the bar and entertainments program of last year required a total subsidy of approximately £50,000.  We feel making cuts to frontline student services to maintain the status quo of a failing bar is not justifiable, especially considering our core mission, vision and values.

 

First and foremost, and to put any gossip to rest, we are not closing our SU bar. We wouldn’t dream of it. The bar remains one of the few student-exclusive spaces on campus to socialise, to meet up or to simply have fun. What we are doing is changing the way we run it. 

 

Three weeks ago we recruited a full time Student Led Social Programme Manager. They will be tasked with putting together a diverse social programme of events in and outside of our venue. And here’s the important bit - it won’t be the Students’ Union deciding what events to put on as has happened in the past - it will be you. Part time officers, Clubs & Societies, Academic communities and individual students will be trained, supported and encouraged to put on the events you want to see.

 

A partnership with Queen Mary Students’ Union will reduce the burden of running a bar by ourselves, and will mean we share commercial bar management. However we will continue to have control over our bar, when it opens, when it closes, how much a drink costs, what our safe space policy is, what nights we put on, and really importantly, continue to employ Goldsmiths students on London Living Wage. This collaboration in the long term will reduce the costs of running a bar whilst allowing us the flexibility to maintain an exciting, student-led social programme of events.

 

The Student Led Social Programme will allow students to reclaim The Stretch. As Goldsmiths is a hub of diverse creativity the SLSP is looking to encompass as much of this talent and facilitate its exposure via the new refurbished Stretch venue. Students will be their own curators, and the programme will become a diverse tapestry of events.

There will be a rebrand of the venue! A new logo, followed by a more accessible Facebook page where events of all natures will be promoted. Alongside the programme, there will be a new Stretch safe space policy, to ensure the well-being and safety of all students. The SLSP will follow training procedures, to ensure students are running events effectively and safely as well as receiving support and advice on how to ensure their events are as successful possible. The SLSP is not only for existing societies, it is open to all groups and individuals that want to curate an event. 

 

Thanks to a brand new fitted partition, The Stretch can accommodate a varied selection of multi-disciplinary events. We have facilities for sport, evening entertainment, performance and music. The capacity can change from an intimate 200 to 600-700. Thanks to this new partition we will be able to facilitate a greater number of events, and make sure they are in the most suitable set up of the space. 

 

 

How do I apply to run an event in the stretch? 

Fill out the submissions form below and have a look at the new Stretch Facebook page for further info. 

Submission Form

www.facebook.com/TheStretchSpace

 

Yes it will, once a month. The first one being this Wednesday 29.10.31.

We will still however have weekly club nights on every Wednesday. Genre’s will change each month according to what students are asking for. This will allow for a varied selection of club nights, a higher level of curation while still keeping the tradition of Club Sandwich for those who love to hate it, or who actually love it. 

 

The bar aims to be open as much as possible, it will only however be open if there is a specific event happening in The Stretch. The SLSP aims to have a full active 5 day per week event schedule, this will be subject to demand and applications.

 

The focus on the Student Led aspect of the programme will allow for more variation in the programming of events. Goldsmiths is an incredibly diverse university, it is only appropriate we listen to as many voices/needs as we can. It is time for students to reclaim their space and to have the chance to showcase their talents, interests and their preferred social interests. We will therefore no longer have to focus with events that are focused on pulling greater numbers. The concept is lateral and will therefore focus on expanding the social programmes effect on a less general student experience. We will be embracing niche, not limiting ourselves to it. 

 

All events will be promoted through our weekly ‘ What’s On’ guide which can be found online, around college and in the Students’ Union. There is a new Stretch Facebook page, as mentioned above. The Goldsmiths Students’ Union website will be promoting events daily as well as the Societies Facebook page. We have a twitter account specifically for GSU and specifically for The Stretch. 

 

Email sara.sassanelli@goldsmithssu.org