Students and workers channeled their anger into art to organise
Dundee University remains on the frontline of the struggle over higher education—but also the fight back.
Nearly 1,000 jobs have been cut or left unrenewed in the last 18 months.
But staff and students have been striking and protesting. The group Students Against Cuts has been instrumental in this, finding creative ways to voice their anger and demand action.
Socialist artist Mike McCarey, who has been at the centre of the student movement, opened an art exhibit titled “This is what you’ll lose—an art and philosophy exhibition in protest of the cuts”.
The first display contains “Stop the cuts” posters that can be found fly-posted around the city. UCU union placards satirising the University Executive Group (UEG) are also present.
The UEG has overseen the “recovery” of a £70 million hole in the university’s finances that was “discovered” last year.
Above this hangs a handmade banner reading “Students support the strikes!”
The exhibit contains photos, banners and placards from protests and strikes and art created by students and workers.
It is a stark reminder of what they are fighting for, and what the whole city stands to lose, if the UEG cuts courses like art and philosophy.
The opening night had over 80 people in attendance and it was clear everyone there was ready to fight against the cuts.
Mike said that the exhibition has allowed them to reach people who weren’t involved and is now formally being considered in a case against the degree being cut.
Between the displays are A4 pages with hand-painted lone blue stick figures.
In November 2025, the Students Against Cuts group staged a protest in an open meeting with the principal on the job cuts. Then, a further 390 jobs were planned to be axed. They painted 390 blue stick figures and stuck them on every seat in the lecture hall.
The stunt proved they were prepared to fight for the university and would not let the management hide behind closed doors, making decisions that cost hundreds their jobs.
The key has been connecting the anger of their art with class action. Art can be a tool for propagandising. Setting up this exhibit, postering and displaying handmade banners has given the students a way to bring attention to the crisis at the university.
The cuts at the university threaten the livelihoods of many workers in Dundee, in and out of the out of the working class.
In an article in Socialist Worker, artist Olive Whigham discussed the nature of art under capitalism. She said she wanted to “make art that advanced the class struggle”. She concluded by saying that art is powerful and contributes to our collective fight.
Mike, and all the artists who were part of this exhibit, have shown that this is possible.
