Approached by the Performing Arts faculty, Sanctuary was honoured to work with the University of the West of Scotland - Higher Educational Institution of the Year 2022 [Herald Higher Education Awards]. Determined to imbed more ideas of inclusive practice with their students and forge connections in the industry – Sanctuary Queer Arts initially became a COMPANY IN RESIDENCE.

We delivered a week’s worth of activity running practical workshops as a tasters for our individual delivery styles, seminars about seeking funding, sessions on our history and our approach to making art and film screenings. 

After the success of our company in residence programme, we were asked to return to deliver SANCTUARY SPACES - a weekly drop-in for queer students to get creative and meet fellow LGBTQ+ students. We ran two blocks of this venture, allowing the university some vital insight into how queer students feel on campus as well as providing a vital space for discussion, peer support and creativity.

Sanctuary and UWS are still throwing ideas back and forth, keen to collaborate on more ventures in the future…