Celebrating 120 years of creativity, courage and impact
Primary page content
Students, alumni, staff and supporters joined together to celebrate Goldsmiths’ contribution to the world at a special event to mark our 120th anniversary.
Acclaimed composer, alumnus, Honorary Fellow and Master of the King's Music, Errollyn Wallen CBE/picture credit: Kevin Moran
Among them was Honorary Fellow, alumnus and Master of the King’s Music Errollyn Wallen CBE, who addressed guests at the House of Lords reception to recognise how Goldsmiths champions the power of creativity to change how we think, feel and live.
The acclaimed composer reflected on her time studying at Goldsmiths in the 1980s and how it continues to shape her craft.
Students, staff, alumni and supporters celebrated Goldsmiths’ impact
“Goldsmiths proved to be an open door to the life I have now, a place where imagination and possibility became reality.”
Value of imagination...and rich experiences
Errollyn affirmed the importance of creative education, including projects like Alchemy, which connects local young people with creative mentors and opens doors to experiences that can shape futures, and provide “a lifeline of the rich experiences that many of us had as our birthright.”
She told guests: “What is the point of life if we don’t have places to study and nurture those things that keep us truly alive?
That sentiment reaches way beyond music, it speaks to the value of imagination in all its forms and Goldsmiths has always been a place where ideas find room to grow, and that spirit continues today.
Music keeps us alive for we are all of us made of music. What is the point of life if we don’t have places to study and nurture those things that keep us truly alive? Thank you for everything you’ve given me, Goldsmiths.
Errollyn Wallen CBE, alumnus and Honorary Fellow
The evening began with Equity Awards scholar and Alchemy Master Omar Elsaaidi raising the roof with a performance of his spoken-word piece Foundations of Gold, which was commissioned to mark our 120th year as a University. Omar is currently in his second year of his BA (hons) in Social Science, Community Development & Youth Work.
Equity Award Scholar Omar Elsaaidi, raised the roof with his performance
Baroness Caine of Kentish Town CBE, former Chair of Goldsmiths’ Council, hosted the event held in the Peers’ Dining Room and welcomed guests to Westminster before Interim Vice-Chancellor Professor David Oswell addressed the room which included Equity Awards scholars, Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres OBE Annie Warburton, CEO of the Goldsmiths’ Company as well as other supporters, Honorands and staff.
Professor Oswell said: “Goldsmiths is one of the great creative universities internationally and we have a long and proud history rooted in New Cross, in Lewisham and south-east London.
“We sing the songs, we paint the pictures, and we dance the dance. The way we do this is deeply informed by the research and teaching of the humanities and the social sciences and computing.
“Goldsmiths has shaped our national zeitgeist in so many ways... throughout its history we have had a passion and a commitment to changing our relationships with the present but doing so in a way that we might reimagine and secure a different future.
“Goldsmiths over its 120 years has not been one thing: it’s responded to its times, it’s adapted to its times, and it’s been shaped by, and shaped proactively, its times.”
We write and tell the stories that are innovative and experimental, and which are rich and meaningful to people from all walks of life.
Professor David Oswell, Interim Vice-Chancellor
Dr Marl'Ene Edwin (3rd from left), Baroness Caine of Kentish Town CBE (5th from left) with Equity Award scholars past and present.
Chair of Goldsmiths' Council Tom Sleigh said: “Higher education matters, Goldsmiths matters so much. I’m so proud to celebrate the work and achievements of our incredible University. Times aren’t easy, and it would be wrong to pretend they are, but with the heart of gold we have at this incredible place I think we will come out stronger and more successful than we have ever been before.”
120 years of creativity and purpose
Founded as a university in 1905 to equip London’s workers with technical and creative skills, Goldsmiths has grown into an internationally recognised centre for art, design, humanities, and social innovation.
For 120 years, its students, staff and alumni have reshaped cultural, civic and social life in the UK and beyond, proving that creative education drives progress, sparks understanding, and opens doors.
Mayor of Lewisham, Brenda Dacres OBE (right) in conversation with the campaigner and Goldsmiths Honorary Fellow, Rosamund Kissi-Debrah FBSA
A year of knowledge in action
The Westminster reception forms part of a wider programme of events and initiatives taking place across the 2025–26 academic year, marking 120 years since Goldsmiths was founded as a university in1905.
Under the theme ‘120 Years of Knowledge in Action’, we will use our anniversary year will explore how creativity and critical thinking continue to shape society, and how they can help address the challenges of our time, from social inequality to environmental sustainability.
Student Omar Elsaaidi performing Foundations of Gold on our campus
Find out more about our 120th anniversary programme