We, the undersigned students, staff, alumni and supporters of Camberwell College of Arts urge CCW leadership to reconsider the proposed closure of the Senior Common Room (SCR), located on floor 2 of Camberwell College of Arts. We are delighted to have the support of Maggi Hambling CBE who supports the campaign to stop the closure of the SCR.

Since 1958, the SCR has operated as a cherished part of our campus life and student culture. It is more than just a bar: it’s a safe, inclusive and affordable space where MA students can meet and mingle with other students from different academic pathways, as well as university staff members, who also benefit from the space.

Running for almost 60 years, the SCR is an essential part of the student journey at Camberwell College of Arts, enabling MA students to form connections, friendships and professional collaborations through an informal programme of events including Postgraduate led exhibitions, celebrations, reading groups and more. The SCR has welcomed many reputable alumni over the years.

The SCR operates on an affordable membership model of £2 for the academic year, ensuring no one is excluded for financial reasons. Closing the SCR would not only remove a key community hub but would also serve to negatively impact the student journey for MA students and raises questions around accessibility.

As a space run entirely by and for its members, it is essential that this independence be maintained to safeguard its distinctive culture and sense of belonging. A peer-run space like the SCR empowers students to self-govern, take ownership, and have a genuine voice in shaping their community space, fostering an organic, inclusive culture that formal structures can sometimes dilute. Closing it would not only dismantle a key part of the student experience but also erase a living piece of institutional history and tradition here at Camberwell.

We respectfully ask the university to engage with students and staff and stop the closure.

It is so important – perhaps now more than ever – for our Postgraduate students to have a place they can connect, relax, learn and collaborate and most importantly, feel safe in. Let’s continue the long legacy of the SCR and keep it open – for our current students and future generations to come.