bebe jewell

Space for art students

By Bebe Jewell

What were my aims:

What were my aims:• To find out if other students were facing the same

difficulty's as myself.• Find out what the art departments thoughts were on

space for students rehearsal currently.• If there were any plans in the future for extension or

new building of multi purpose performance rooms.• What the future plans were for art courses.• What the students and the staff felt were needed and if

this affected their time at this university.

Why is it important?

Why is it important?• PAS provides room to many of the biggest and largest SU sports and

societies.• The university rents out the space to external companies and

individuals, which brings money to the university.• Because unlike many courses on the university, students do EISP

(External Independent Study Projects) which is in form of a performance. This is their dissertation.

So do we really need the space?


• The arts courses has seen a 30% increase in applications in 2 years, which looks to be a further increase this year.• Most courses will only have 3% of applicants choose to

attend Winchester, The arts has around a 5-10% average.• Which may not sound a lot, but just SINGLE honours

drama is 160 students • Each group project normally has 4-5 people in

meaning…


•160 dived by 4 = 40 groups•There are 6 pas studios for rehearsal•Meaning each room is meant to be shared between

6.66 groups


• Now that is just for 1 of the many arts courses.• Not to mention the space needed for societies, sports

teams, EISP rehearsals, independent companies and most importantly Lectures.• Also EISP are normally done independently directing

others. So that is each individual in the class trying to book out rooms just for themselves.• University are planning on renting out the pas space

more next year, yet have not got plans yet to extend.

In a recent survey Out of 117 students


• When asked ‘Are you able to book a PAS studio orDance Studio at the time & day you want it?’


• When asked ‘Are you able to book a PAS studio orDance Studio at the time & day you want it?’

Always = 3.42 %Sometimes = 15.38 %Neutral = 2.56 %Not Always = 34.19 %Rarely = 37.61 %


• Do you feel there is enough performing spaces for students to be able to rehearse in when they need to?


• Do you feel there is enough performing spaces for students to be able to rehearse in when they need to?

Yes = 2.56% Somewhat = 5.13%Neutral = 3.42%Could be more = 29.06%Not Enough/ Need More = 58.97%


• If the university was thinking of building more PAS rooms and Dance Studios, how important do you think these are needed?



Extremely Important = 64.96%Somewhat Important = 27.35%Neutral = 2.56%Not that important = 5.13%Not important at all =



Extremely Important = 64.96%Somewhat Important = 27.35%Neutral = 2.56%Not that important = 5.13%Not important at all = 0.00%


• If more Performance Rooms and Dance Studios were built for students to use for rehearsal and practice, do you think this would make a positive change to your rehearsals and end performance/assessment?


• If more Performance Rooms and Dance Studios were built for students to use for rehearsal and practice, do you think this would make a positive change to your rehearsals and end performance/assessment?

Wouldn’t help at all = 0.00%Not Much = 1.71%Neutral = 2.56%A little bit = 14.56%Definitely = 80.34%


• I've had to resort to rehearsing in corridors at times!• One of the main reasons I will not recommend the university to students is how

unimportant this issue has been to the university as a whole.• It's extremely painful to practice dance on carpet after folding away forty chairs and six

tables.• I worry that it is just getting worst, I am proud of being a Winchester student but am not

proud of the facilities• As a drama student I find that these rooms are key to getting our grades and achieving

our full potential.

Out of 41 comments 40 expressed concern, anger, annoyance and comments very similar to the above

Plans for next year:4 new confirmed arts courses starting next year, meaning a potential 16 extra lectures a week, not to mention the added 105 new students, needing the added space for their rehearsals for their assessments. BUT

Plans for next year:4 new confirmed arts courses starting next year, meaning a potential 16 extra lectures a week, not to mention the added 105 new students, needing the added space for their rehearsals for their assessments. BUTThere are plans for the Herbert Jarmin building to be gutted and remodelled into new classrooms or spaces. BUT

Plans for next year:4 new confirmed arts courses starting next year, meaning a potential 16 extra lectures a week, not to mention the added 105 new students, needing the added space for their rehearsals for their assessments. BUTThere are plans for the Herbert Jarmin building to be gutted and remodelled into new classrooms or spaces. BUT There is no current talks for more space to be built for more performance space, let alone

Plans for next year:• The storage space for the arts, so students and lecturers

can store props and equitment and the university do not need to keep buying props and set.• A room so theatre production can actually make sets and

props, so they can produce theatre.• A proper function venue, with a box office, parking and

voyer to put on professional showcases and shows. Which would help bring money into the university and also save money, as we currently pay £1000 a day to use Winchester Royal Theatre to put on our shows.

Plans for next year:Also there has been no talks to fix the ongoing problems in PAS, such as

• Heating not working• Air conditioning not working,• Speakers and computers not working• Mirrors to be added to the rooms• Black out blinds fitted into each room

What I hope the future looks like for the arts department

Thank you for listening any questions?

bebe jewell

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