RENTERS! brings together artistic practices from UAL students and recent graduates to formulate discussion around the living conditions of students in London. The exhibition builds on research carried out in Arts SU’s Private Renters ReportThis link will open in a new tab, which revealed huge levels of dissatisfaction with the private rental sector, and how it impacts students’ physical, emotional and mental wellbeing.
Over 300 students shared their experiences with us on a wide range of topics including affordability of accommodation, property conditions, and the impact of their living situation on their health. We are incredibly grateful to every student who responded and shared their experience with us.
The exhibition includes artworks by students from a variety of courses and colleges across UAL. Through sculpture, painting, photography, video, design and other multidisciplinary practices, RENTERS! critically engages with wider conversations around tenants’ rights, guardianship, impacts on health and wellbeing, privatisation, and art and gentri cation.
Through this exhibition we hope to generate discussion about how both the University and Arts SU can support students who are balancing the priorities of their studies, with a high-cost yet low-quality private rental market. We believe this exhibition will connect with communities to see the common ground and actions that can be taken as a collective, and call attention to wider issues of renting across London and the UK.