From free posters to pottery making: How to make the most out of your own on-campus Arts Centre!

The Warwick Arts Centre is the UK’s biggest arts centre outside London and is packed full of creative spaces to not just immerse yourself in art, but also to produce it yourself. Home to cinemas, rehearsal rooms, restaurants, bars, and art exhibitions, the centre has something for every student, and this guide will teach you how to make the very most of it (on a student budget)!

Film talks and Q&As with scholars and industry professionals are also regularly hosted in the Arts centre

Firstly, in terms of cinema, the Arts Centre boasts three screens and an under 26s film club which, for £10 a year, grants you £5 tickets as well as a 10% discount at the centre’s Benugo Bar & Kitchen. The cinema screens a variety of films, from National Theatre Live productions to international indies, making these student deals perfect if you’re more interested in independent cinema and want to see them long before the student cinema screens them. Film talks and Q&As with scholars and industry professionals are also regularly hosted in the Arts Centre, such as January’s ‘Handle with Care’ discussion panel for How To Have Sex, with intimacy coordinator Jen Odell. These are usually free to attend or discounted. Studying film, I received lots of coupon codes for these talks from my department!

The Mead Gallery always has an exhibition on during term time, and with free entry it means you can simply pop in and view some of the amazing works on display

One of my favourite things about the cinema is the option to collect physical tickets online when booking. These were perfect for filling up the colossal corkboard in my room in Cryfield Standard! There’s also a ‘What’s On’ pamphlet for each month’s cinema events as well as various flyers that I would nab on the way to and from lectures for further room decor. The pamphlets tell you about each month’s mystery screening, where you can get a free poster, so I would strongly recommend attending the Welcome Week screening on 5 October if you haven’t picked up enough freebies at the fresher’s fair!

As for art, the Mead Gallery always has an exhibition on during term time, and with free entry it means you can simply pop in and view some of the amazing works on display. And these exhibitions don’t just work one way. Last Autumn, the gallery was occupied by Japanese sculptor Takuro Kuwata’s Tea Bowl Punk exhibition, and had a corner dedicated to pottery where visitors could make their own clay ornaments. Then, in the Summer term, Daiga Grantina’s Lilacs exhibition included a concert where a range of Warwick Band Society artists, including my friends’ band, Astraea, performed. The variety of events and free entry makes the gallery far more accessible to everyone.

The Arts centre works closely with creative societies at the university, offering rehearsal spaces for student bands and productions

If celebrations are in order after a particularly difficult assignment or exam, then look no further than Benugo and the all-you-can-eat buffet at Panda Mami for a meal out, without having to trek into Leamington or Coventry. I personally recommend Panda Mami’s buffet: at just £18.99 a head, you can fill your boots with a range of tasty Asian food. They also regularly offer TooGoodToGo lunch bags, helping you save the planet while also getting a cheap takeaway!

If you’re into stand-up comedy, the Arts centre is on the UK’s comedy circuit

Studying film at Warwick, I have lectures and screenings in the Arts Centre, so it’s important that the building has study spots for me to use to prepare for later seminars. The Arts Centre is the perfect place for this, with lots of quiet nooks and sofas to comfortably set up with a Benugo coffee and a study playlist. Even in the screening rooms, there’s full Eduroam connection, making it easy to get work done in one of the comfiest study spots on campus.

Finally, if you’re into stand-up comedy, the Arts Centre is on the UK’s Comedy Circuit, and has shows coming up from names such as Nish Kumar, Ed Gamble, and Maisie Adam. Last year, Taskmaster star Alex Horne’s band, The Horne Section, performed at Butterworth Hall – and, fun fact, Alex Horne has an honorary degree from Warwick!

All in all, if you’ve any interest in the arts, it’s definitely worth getting yourself down to the Arts Centre during Welcome Week and picking up a pamphlet or two to see what’s on and how to get involved. With plenty of freebies and student discounts, it’s the perfect place to go for entertainment during the year.