Reflections

What does the opening of the Schwarzman Centre mean to people at the University of Oxford and in the wider community? We asked the question… 

• Confidence

  “At a time when the arts and humanities face such significant headwinds, our Centre is a powerful reaffirmation of their vital importance both today and for future generations. Combining culture, creativity and humanities research in this way will generate new knowledge and offer transformative experiences. We cannot wait to share it with 
  our audiences.”
  
  Professor Dan Grimley
  Head of the Humanities Division,
  University of Oxford

• Pride

  “Having spent years helping to design and build the performance venues and concert hall it’s incredibly rewarding to see such a world-class cultural space rise right here in my hometown. Being able to walk past the Schwarzman Centre and show my family and friends the spaces I helped to create makes the whole experience deeply personal.
  
  It means a lot to know that something I contributed to will become a place where our community gathers, performs and celebrates for generations to come.”
  
  Jack Higgins
  Construction Manager, Laing O’Rourke
  (building contractor for the Schwarzman Centre)

• Community

  "Arriving at Oxford University as a Master’s student who wasn’t an undergad’ here felt like stepping onto a film set. It’s beautiful, but also slightly surreal and it wasn’t somewhere I was sure I could be comfortable. The Schwarzman Centre changed that.
  
  The Centre makes casual connection easy. With everyone under one roof, “networking” often just means walking down the hall — I’m constantly bumping into classmates and friends in a way that makes the experience feel alive and shared. 
  
  Oxford now feels less like a film set and more like a home.”
  
  Johannah Fienburgh
  Master’s student in World Literatures,
  English Faculty

• Buzzy

  “ I love that I can walk into the building and run into colleagues from across the Humanities. The short informal chats are great for keeping up with what colleagues in other faculties are up to. I also really like the buzz of student energy, with so many hanging out to work or grab a coffee with friends.
  
  Lastly, it’s nice to have a building that is accessible to non-University members. I think it’s great that anyone can walk in and experience the same intellectual energy that I feel when I visit.”
  
  Dr Venus Bivar
  Associate Professor of Environmental History,
  St Anne’s College, and Academic Lead,
  Environmental Humanities Research Hub

• Dazzling!

  “I am so glad to be part of the opening of the Schwarzman Centre. I am really pleased that a Centre for the Humanities has finally arrived in Oxford. The years of conversations, planning and hard work were worth it!”
  
  Ash Aslam
  Receptionist at the Schwarzman Centre

• Possibility

  “For over a century, the UPP has been Oxford’s home for independent film, and we have seen first-hand the city’s deep appetite for a rich variety of cinema. The arrival of the Schwarzman Centre is a transformative addition to the cultural landscape, bringing new space, fresh ideas and expanded opportunities for students, artists and local audiences to meet, learn and be inspired.
  
  At a moment when the film sector and cultural life are undergoing major changes, I am excited by the possibilities the Centre brings to Oxford’s creative ecosystem and the many doors to meaningful collaboration it is already beginning to open.”
  
  Micaela Tuckwell
  Executive Director, 
  The Ultimate Picture Palace (UPP),
  Oxford