Like many universities and cultural organisations, we have seen how the war on Gaza and the attack on Israel on 7 October is affecting students, staff, artists, and audiences not just at The Place but across the UK and globally.

We always strive for an open dialogue between staff and students in our small and specialist institution, and our focus over this period has been on providing personal and confidential support to individuals in our community who are affected. However, London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) received a list of demands from LCDS Student Justice for Palestine, and we want to respond with an update.

As the Senior Leadership Team, we have thought carefully about all the stated demands and considered what is possible and appropriate use of charitable resources. At the same time, we are unequivocal in recognising that this conflict continues to cause unimaginable suffering and we continue to hope for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, the delivery of aid and a peaceful resolution.

In relation to student demands, some activities are happening or starting, and there are other areas where what is being asked is not possible – we have tried to give context as to why.

Organisation context and limitations
The Place is a charity registered with the Charity Commission. We receive funding from Arts Council England as a National Portfolio Organisation, and funding from the Office for Students as a registered Higher Education Provider. The Place’s board of governors are responsible for governance and they, and the management team, must run the organisation in a way that complies with the charitable objects detailed in our governing document and complies with the requirements of charity law.

Our charitable objects are to foster, promote and increase the interest of the public in the knowledge, understanding and practice of the art of contemporary dance and to promote and assist presentation of contemporary dance and the training of contemporary dance practitioners.

The following examples from the Charity Commission outline how charities can operate:

Charities can take part in political activity that supports their purpose and is in their best interests. Example: a charity whose purpose is to run an animal sanctuary and rehome stray animals could not decide to campaign for human rights overseas, which although a worthwhile cause, does not further the charity’s purpose of running an animal sanctuary.

Charities may express their support or opposition to a specific policy advocated by a political party if it relates to their charitable purposes. Example: a healthcare charity may comment on policy relating to the NHS – but not an animal welfare or environmental welfare charity
Charities can use social media to engage in campaigning and political activity –including on topics that provoke strong emotions – if this is a way of achieving their charitable purpose and is in the charity’s best interests.

To maintain funding for both our education and artistic activities, we must not breach our statutory duties under charity law. Without charitable status, we would cease to be able to receive funds for students, artists and related activities. We conclude that many of the demands from LCDS Student Justice for Palestine are likely to breach those duties.

The right to peaceful protest
We continue to support every individual’s right to peacefully protest, and to freedom of speech within the law. During the recent protest LCDS senior management worked with students to offer guidance around managing risks and holding the protest safely in a public space; and we will always work with the student body to ensure the physical safety of students, staff, and members of the wider public during any planned peaceful protests.

We aim to provide space for expression of a wide range of ideas and opinions, but we are also mindful that lawful freedom of expression cannot include discrimination against, or harassment of, students, staff or members of the public. You can read more details in our Freedom of Speech, Prevention of Bullying and Harassment and Equity and Inclusion policies.

Independent to University of the Arts London (UAL) and student feedback
In 2021-2022, we applied and were accepted onto the register as a Higher Education Provider with the Office for Students and as such we operate independently of UAL with our own board of governors, management team, and governing document. Our Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses are validated by UAL, for which we pay a fee, but we are not a UAL college.

We engage formally with UAL through the Link Liaison Committee which is chaired and managed by UAL and we will relay student feedback via this means.

Reviewing our financial service providers
We are aware of the need to further develop protocols and policies relating to ethical investment and at the review meeting with Barclays in 2023, we discussed Barclays’ ESG (environmental, social, and governance) approach. Our next step is to collate further questions from staff, student and artist representatives and to investigate options with oversight from the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

Financial support to students
As a small and specialist institution, we are constantly working hard to raise funds and many students were involved in efforts this year. Currently LCDS does not have the resources to offer full scholarships for our full-time on-site courses but instead actively fundraises through donors, trusts and foundations to make financial support available for all applicants via the Student Support Fund.

Cultural activism
We believe that art is political, and cultural activism is a core value at The Place. We work through dance and dance artists to challenge dominant interpretations and constructions of the world.

Alongside representing a diverse range of voices in our artistic programme, during the last Periodic Programmes Review in 2020-21, LCDS made a clear commitment to anti-racism and decolonising the curriculum. In the first phase, we made space for more dance practices and artists from the African and South Asian diaspora. In the second phase, the faculty and the LCDS Artistic Commissioning Group will explore opportunities to introduce dance practices and artists from the Middle East and North-African (MENA) region, including Palestine and the wider Palestinian communities, in order to more accurately reflect London as a global hub in which many different dancing cultures intersect, and to embed these in the curriculum where appropriate.

Students and alumni have been part of the previous round of Periodic Programmes Review, as well as this round: through student consultation meetings, Learning & Teaching Committee and Academic Board. Students have been actively involved in sharing their experience of the finer details of implementing the courses, which has included discussions about the relevance and value of practices and suggestions for enhancement.

Equity, Diversity and Access policy and procedures
The Equity, Diversity and Access Committee (previously called the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee) which includes student representatives, will begin developing our next Equity and Diversity Action Plan in the autumn. As part of this work the Committee have set up a new partnership with consultants Spotlight Inclusion to host a series of focus groups for students, staff and artists to get your input. Details will be shared via the student newsletter.

Going forward
We remain committed to an open dialogue working with and through existing student-centred committees and groups including Student Voice Committee, Student Representatives and Year Group Meetings where dialogue can and does continue to influence and inform wider decision-making.

Published 18 June 2024