GSA Sustainability

Image: Corale Fraser, Freshers Garden Gathering, GSA Green Space Society

Dear All,

A warm welcome to this Autumn edition of the GSA Sustainability newsletter.

GSA Sustainability is here to support staff and students to integrate environmental and social justice into your practice and work. We offer practical curriculum support and training, can discuss where to get cheaper and more ethical materials, and how to save energy and water across our campus. 

Your wellbeing is key, and we promote cycling through Dr. Bike sessions, providing maps, advice and equipment. We can work with you on your Climate anxiety and how creative practice can help address concerns.  

In this issue: we have the launch of GSA Men's Shed, a screening of Everybody to Kenmure Street, news from GSA Salvage, a textiles workshop from alumna Helena Powell, and contacts for the Circular Arts Network. We are promoting the 20p per mile cycling rate staff can claim, an upcoming reused bike sale, the next meeting of Garnethill Climate Group, and the winners of our GSA Sustainability Degree Show prizes. 

GSA Men's Shed

Image: Hyunjae Kang, REVERIE (Communication Design, 2024)

Tuesday 29 September
12-1pm in The Vic
Students and staff are welcome to the first meeting of the GSA Men’s Shed. Men's Sheds are community workshops where men can create, converse and connect. Come along, have a chat and a cuppa. Bring your own lunch if you wish.

We want to explore what we might be: making, repairing, cycling, walking, gardening, nature, culture, skills sharing, baking, creating, socials... Turn up, or email Marjory Bond in Student Support, or John the Sustainability Coordinator. 

Everybody to Kenmure Street

Tuesday 6th October
Reid Auditorium
Neighbours and activists rush to surround an immigration van detaining two residents in Scotland’s most diverse community. Everybody to Kenmure Street is an intense, ground-level, and ultimately joyous account of the standoff with the police and the UK Home Office. Our film celebrates collective action, looking to the stories that led to that day and the historic events that have shaped this community.

GSA Salvage

Image: GSA Salvage Freshers Stow Garden Rummage, Shanshan Wang, GSA Salvage

GSA Salvage is a student collective documenting existing material reuse efforts within The Glasgow School of Art and developing a Garnethill Circular Economy Hub.

GSA Salvage aims to save artworks and materials from landfill, giving GSA students more choices and connections within their community to explore reuse and to save money within their practice.

For more on their future plans, or to join the group, message through Instagram.

GSA Green Space Society

Image: Corale Fraser, GSA Green Space Society

The Green Space Society aim to increase the quality of all GSA green spaces, providing beautiful and useful spaces for students and staff to enjoy.  Any students can get involved, organising, planting, within your practice or in workshops.

Garnethill Climate Group

Image: Emma Hislop Phenomena System Xiades Machine, SEA, 2019

1pm, Wednesday 30 September
Reid Building Reception
Garnethill Climate Group brings together local residents, organisations and the GSA community to enhance and improve our local environment. It's coordinated by Shona Robin-MacPherson GSA's Community Engagement Officer, and John Thorne the Sustainability Coordinator. 

The next meeting looks at outside air monitoring. We will have the chance to use and train on NO₂ CO₂ and particulate monitoring equipment, with the intention of regular monitoring of our air. All welcome. Meet at Reid Building reception, Wednesday 30 September 1pm (we finish around 2pm). Dress for the weather!

If you'd like to be added to the group's mailing list, or just want to know more please visit our webpage. 

Transparency in Textiles Workshops

Part 1: Yarn and Colour, 5.30pm-8pm, 23 November
Part 2: Colour and Construction, 5.30pm-830pm, 25 November
These two evening sessions are a chance to explore different stages of the textiles process. From exploring the translation of craftsmanship skills into the textiles industry; exploring from spinning to weaving with a detour in colour, too. Hosted by GSA alumna Helena Powell.

Helena spent her degree exploring the production and craftsmanship that ultimately translates to production a skillset. She explores the maths and chemistry of different stages of the textile process as well as ethical and sustainable questions, to compare different routes and outcomes for these pieces. From training with handweavers, to micromills to medium-scale British Mills, Helena has worked within the different scales and where the comparative craftmanship transcends scale.

This project has been noted for sustainability awards in addition to be a pillar of how Helena continues her practice to this day. Through her practice, Helena works in the mind of constantly asking how and why, exploring notably grey areas of textiles manufacturing and understanding deep-rooted understanding of the process. Her philosophy stems from a reflection of history, craftmanship and questioning how textiles became a third largest pollutant and easily disregarded when not too long ago it was a symbolic status.

GSA Students £2, others £5 to cover soft drinks and snacks. 

Circular Arts Network

The CAN Reuse Hub — a new Glasgow city centre space for the exchange, collection and drop-off of materials for reuse. Based on Blythswood Street

Developed in response to our community, the hub makes it easier to connect with CAN in person, collect materials, and keep resources in circulation across the arts sector.

You'll also find CAN materials in the CAN Cart - currently in the Reid building. Reuse points can be found across the GSA.

Cycle for Work: 20p per Mile

Image: Cycling Scotland

GSA Staff can claim 20p/mile when cycling for work - whether pedalling to meetings or events. Claim in the same way as for car mileage. 

No bike? For more information on how to get a cheap reused bike, or to purchase a new one through GSA's Cycle Scheme, please click below. 

We have a range of support available to cyclists and those wanting to start, from maps, where to get cycling equipment, advice on routes and linking you up with more experienced cyclists. 

Degree Show Prize Winners 2026

Image: Qianquan Wang, Smart Zoo, MLitt Creative Art Practice 2026

Over fifty graduating students submitted applications for our 2026 Sustainability Degree Show Prizes. From MLitt to MArch, and Innovation and Environment to Sculpture & Environmental Art, explore the winners.

Dr Bike 

We hold regular bicycle check-ups, free for all GSA students and staff. The next is on Monday 5th October 11am-2pm outside the Reid building. 

Bike Sale

We have a sale of reconditioned bikes outside the Reid building on Monday 12th October from noon. 

Sustainability Staff at GSA

John Thorne is GSA's Sustainability Coordinator, and Yash Shrivastava is GSA's Energy and Sustainability Manager, more on our roles our webpage