Ascensions 4 {Class Rules}

For the fourth event in the Ascensions series, we are bringing together Shawn Adams and Jake Arnfield, Melanie King and Sarah Cohen (of the RCA Working Class Collective). They will be joining us to discuss ‘the elephant in the room of architectural education’, class, as an invisible but deeply material factor in creative education. 

Shawn, Jake, Sarah and Melanie (RCA Working Class Society) will be in the building to discuss their grounds and horizons and the ways in which the spirit of the RCA School of Architecture has informed and inspired their ongoing and future practice. Taking place in the ArtBar/Lounge, our guests will think through their work in both image and sound, emphasising the significance of presence and culture in the deepening of social and spatial practices, both across the School and beyond. 

Held in the more informal, seminal setting of the ArtBar/Lounge, where some of the best ideas and deepest connections tend to come about, and to create a more discursive atmosphere; we want to talk, think, play some music, and collectively be together. 

Shawn Adams (RCA MA Architecture 2020) is an architect, writer, and lecturer who currently teaches at Central St Martins, UAL and the Architectural Association. Shawn works as the Outreach Lead at housing specialist company HTA Design LLP and is the co-founder of the socially-minded design practice Power Out of Restriction (POoR). Earlier this year, POoR won the London Design Festival’s Emerging Design Medal.

Jake Arnfield (RCA MA Architecture 2019) is an architectural worker. His work focuses on transforming spatial-social inequality through collective action, both at work and in local communities. He is part of Hackney Council’s Council Housing delivery team, and is an Elected Workplace Organiser at the architectural trade union UNITE-SAW. 

Sarah Cohen (RCA MA Contemporary Art Practice 2023) is an artist and writer. Her work spans text, moving image, sound, collage and more, and is currently focused on ghosts and AI. Sarah co-runs Bleet! alongside Ben Sargent and Alice Harry. Together they publish zines and produce performance evenings merging music, poetry and performance art. 

Melanie King (RCA PhD Arts & Humanities candidate) is a working class artist and curator, originally from Manchester, UK and currently based in  Kent, UK. She is co-director of super/collider, Lumen Studios and founder of the London Alternative Photography Collective. Melanie is Lecturer In Photography at Canterbury Christ Church University. She is represented by the Land Art Agency.

RCA Working Class Collective

Formed in 2020 by RCA Alumni Christoph Jones and Jennifer Mcmillan, the Working Class Collective is a society for support, advocacy and solidarity. This group is for anyone who wishes to discuss their experiences of being working class and/or low income. This group was formed to better understand issues faced by working-class people in the RCA and beyond.

We aim to promote the work and interests of working-class artists inside the RCA and the art world generally. We acknowledge and celebrate the varied lives and experiences of working-class people through regular talks, events, exhibitions and social gatherings. Currently, the acting chairs of the collective are Melanie King and Ben Westley-Clarke.

Co-curated by Charlotte Grace and Thomas Aquilina

Support from Pam Su and Ed Budge 

Music by Dara Khakpour (RCA Interior Futures 2021)

Poster design by Hereth (Clem Rousset: RCA MA Graphic Design 2020)