In a bid to boost students’ employability and finances in the cost-of-living crisis, the University of Westminster has launched The Gallery Coffee Shop at Regent Campus on 13 April. It is the only independent artisan café on Regent Street, where unique student artworks are put on display and sold on the spot and through a dedicated online store.
On the launch day visitors trying the coffee shop’s artisan hot drinks and local food offering can get their hands on one of the 600 original London-themed student-designed coffee cups on a first come first served basis.
The launch celebration of the café took place on 12 April, at Fyvie Hall, 309 Regent Street, bringing together the project team, students, journalists, and other guests to share more about the initiative, and try the delicious coffee and food.
The new space is expected to become a firm favourite among local workers looking for sustainably-sourced coffee and seasonal food made of local ingredients, and a destination coffee shop for all art-loving Londoners and tourists.
As the only permanent student art café selling student creations, The Gallery Coffee Shop provides a space for Westminster students from any subject area to showcase and trade their works.
The artworks are carefully selected from Westminster FOLIO platform, with the vision to engage high-profile curators three to four times a year in the future through externally curated exhibitions. The works on display are available to purchase on the spot, or digitally via an online brochure, with the full amount of the proceeds going to the student creators. The artwork offering is planned to be changed initially every two months and later on a monthly basis.
The Gallery Coffee Shop was converted from the University’s previous Gallery Café into an outward-facing gallery space, led by the University’s Associate Director for Commercial Services David Vacher, the visionary of the initiative, and Andre Pinkowski, Course Leader and Academic Lead in identifying and curating the student work on display.
Talking about the project, David Vacher said: “Launching The Gallery Coffee Shop, simultaneously as an art exhibition space and as the only independent coffee shop on Regent Street serving sustainably sourced artisan coffee and food, is an incredible opportunity. The University is passionate about engaging the public, as well as coming up with creative ideas for supporting Westminster students both financially and through enhancing their employability, and this project does all of that.”
Andre Pinkowski said: “The exposure the University provides for our talented students from all disciplines through The Gallery Coffee Shop project on one of the busiest streets in the heart of London will contribute to their career progression as well as finances. We are excitedly looking forward to engaging with high profile curators and showcasing a wide variety of student artwork.”
The Gallery Coffee Shop website to view or purchase the artworks on display will be launched soon.
