Art students are still feeling the impact of the fire that broke out in the studio spaces of Avionics Building in November and are struggling to get compensation for damaged materials.
The building, which is not owned by Kingston University, was used as a studio space and housed some of the students’ graded work and materials.
One level 6 fine art student who was using the Avionics space before the fire said: “Initially, I felt that they told us pretty quickly (what happened) considering the circumstances but then there was a lot of silence and repeating the same stuff.
“Even now there’s a lot of confusion that will hopefully be cleared up soon.”
The student’s assignment work was inside the building when the fire took place and she received a pass as she could no longer work on it while the building was being worked on.
On December 10 2024, students were told that other parts of the university including the Penrhyn Road campus, would be repurposed as studio spaces for the meantime.
However, at the beginning of the new term in January, students had still not been told what damage had been done to the building during the fire and whether they could pick up their materials and work.
One student said that they were told reimbursement via receipt proof may be possible for materials if they were damaged but many students said that their belongings dated back years with no receipts.
The student said: “From what I understand, if you have receipts or I think bank statements, then the insurance can compensate you but otherwise I don’t think so.
“Kind of sucks because who keeps that stuff and what if some supplies are old?”
Some art students have now been relocated to the lower floors of the John Galsworthy lecture building and River House on Kingston’s riverside.
The student also said: “We are paying 9-16k a year and no longer getting what we paid for: a proper studio space and no studio for a month or so.
“Also it just really sucks that this is in our last year because it’s a stressful situation and breaks the flow a lot of us were in.”
Students were allowed into the Avionics Building to collect materials and work in the week starting 13 January after a long period of silence from the university, many finding their work undamaged.
A Kingston University spokesperson said in response: “Following the fire, the University has put a number of measures in place to provide alternative studio space for students and minimise disruption to their study. Level 5 students have relocated to the ground floor of River House, while Level 6 students are currently based in the John Galsworthy building and Main Building at Penrhyn Road campus nearby.
“Students have been able to collect artwork, materials and personal effects from the Avionics Building. Kingston School of Art will continue to provide students with updates on progress with repairs to the building as further information becomes available.”
Izzy Dine
May Young
Jade Oates