ACUADS Newsletter

February – March 2004

The ACUADS newsletter is an ad hoc publication from the Australian Council of Art and Design Schools. It aims to communicate information about activities of the Council Executive, research interests and events and activities related to the visual art and design sector.

Ð Return to Newsletter Archive Ð

1. ACUADS Executive Meeting

At the recent ACUADS Executive Committee meeting held in Adelaide on 27 February the following agenda items were included:

• ACUADS Fellowship
• Foundation Studies Benchmarking
• Teaching Exchange Program
• Distinguished Teaching Awards for 2004
• Distinguished Research Awards for 2004
• ACUADS 2004 Conference
• Links with NAVA, Crafts Australia and CHASS (Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences) – for these items the Executive welcomed Ms Tamara Winikoff from NAVA, Ms Catrina Vignando from Craft Australia and Mr Toss Gascoigne from CHASS.

Unconfirmed minutes of this meeting have been forwarded to all Heads of Schools/members of ACUADS. This included draft details of the Teaching Exchange Program, Distinguished Teaching and Research Awards.

2. ACUADS Fellowship 2003

Tony Bishop was presented with the 2003 ACUADS Fellowship gold pin by the ACUADS Chair Prof. David Williams in Adelaide on 27 February 2004. The Fellowship recognises a distinguished career in fostering the development and management of a School of Art and Design and publicly acknowledges the major achievements of a senior colleague as determined by their peers.

Ð Top Ð

3. ACUADS 2004 Annual Conference

Conference theme: 'Art and Design Update: new policies – new opportunities'

Venue: Australian National University, School of Art
Childers Street, Canberra, ACT 2601

Dates: 22-24 September 2004

Pre-Conference Seminars: (tbc) Wed 22 September 2004

- Foundation Studies - Convenor Kay Lawrence (UniSA)
- Honours Program - Convenor (tba)
- Graduate Students - Convenor (tba)
- Computer Studies - Convenor Gilbert Riedelbauch (ANU)

Colleagues interested to contribute to these seminars please provide a brief outline of your proposal.

Conference: Thu and Fri 23-24 September 2004

ACUADS AGM: Fri 24 September

Background
The planning of this year’s ACUADS is well underway. Professor David Williams from the ANU School of Art and Chair, together with Professor Craig Bremner from University of Canberra Architecture and Design and Mr Jim Sullivan, Acting Dean, Faculty of Design, Canberra Institute of Technology constitute the organising committee.

The committee has already planned a number of related activities, events and exhibitions involving the 3 campuses. An international keynote speaker (tba) has been invited to present a National Press Club address on Wednesday 22 September. Screening of Leger’s 1924 silent film Ballet Mechanique with live accompaniment by ANU School of Music Drumatix at the National Gallery of Australia is being planned.

CALL FOR PAPERS

Following the introduction of major government reforms to higher education the conference will consider the impact of new policies and their implications for teaching and research in art and design education. The Conference will give priority to a focus on the new opportunities open to our discipline.

Papers are called for on the following themes:

• successful research initiatives
• potential for institutional collaboration
• internationalization in the brave new world
• teaching and assessment in the context of quality assurance.

Please send a 200 word abstract of your proposed paper clearing stating how it addresses the Conference theme, and a five-line biographical note to ACUADS@anu.edu.au BY Mon 10 May 2004.

For further information: contact Professor David Williams ANU School of Art or e-mail david.Williams@anu.edu.au

Note the dates into your diaries NOW – 22-24 September 2004 in Canberra.

Ð Top Ð

4. ACUADS Awards

ACUADS Distinguished Teaching Awards for 2004

This award was introduced in 2003 and will be continued in the Annual program of activities for ACUADS. It recognises outstanding teaching careers in art and design education. Heads of Schools are invited to nominate candidates who are then assessed by the Executive Committee against the stated criteria. The ACUADS Executive believes that the presentation of this annual national award signals the strength and professionalism of the art and design discipline to members of the wider community. Publicity and promotion of the award in the Australian newspaper has added to the profile of the art and design sector.

Heads of Schools are now invited to submit nominations for the 2004 year. Closing date July 31st 2004; refer to the criteria and send to – ACUADS@anu.edu.au

NEW – ACUADS Distinguished Research Awards

In recognition of the high quality research which is taking place at Art and Design Schools, the Executive Committee decided to create a new category of award. Its purpose is to identify and acknowledge significant research achievements in the visual arts and design education sector. This includes the co-ordination, supervision, mentoring and/or examination of higher degree art and design research students, as well as maintaining a distinguished personal research record.

The Award will consist of a citation and presentation at the ACUADS AGM. Heads of Schools will be contacted shortly for nominations for this inaugural award for 2004. Closing date: 31st July 2004. Send to: ACUADS@anu.edu.au

5. ACUADS Teaching Exchange Program

The Executive Committee recently endorsed a proposal for a Teaching Exchange program between Australian University Art and Design Schools. The exchange seeks to contribute to the professional development and experience of teachers in art and design. Details of the process are currently being drafted and further information will be available in the near future.

6. Foundation Studies Benchmarking Project

The final Foundation Studies Benchmarking Project Report was tabled by Professor Kay Lawrence at the Adelaide meeting. Copies of the report are to be circulated to all Heads of Schools and will also be made available on the ACUADS Web page. In endorsing the report the Executive Committee noted that feedback from users to date had been positive and encouraged wide use and networking based on the results. The Chair noted that it was evident that a lot of work had been required to obtain the data and to summarise the current state of Foundation Studies national. The Executive thanked Kay and her team for their work in successfully completing this project.

7. CHASS – New Advocate for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Heads of Schools have received details about the inaugural meeting establishing steering and reference groups. A major event at Parliament House Canberra titled Humanities, Arts and Social Science on the Hill is scheduled for June 15 and 16 for publicity and promotion.

Ð Top Ð

8. What's On?

ACUADS Seminar Program for 2004

ACUADS-assisted seminars – for your diary:

Postgraduate Seminar – Monash University

Monash University Department of Fine Arts is hosting a Postgraduate Seminar dealing with Research in Current Art Education on 16 April 2004.

This seminar will explore the nature and scope of research in the current context of art practice and education at the higher degree level. Papers are invited to address the many diverse ways in which practitioners conduct research to achieve and informed and fluid approach to the creative process.

Painting Symposium – Monash University

Theme: Spectrum of Possibilities: the Significance of Painting in Current Art Practice
When: 9-10 July 2004

Painting continues to be central to current art practice, constantly reconfiguring itself in the most exciting ways both formally and theoretically. This conference will provide a forum for an in-depth exchange of ideas between artists, writers and curators on the significance of painting in both its material and philosophical dimensions within current art practice in the 21st Century. Papers are called for what will be a lively and vigorous debate on the place of painting today.

For further information – contact leslie.eastman@artdes.monash.edu.au
or call on 03 9903 2146.

Blind Spot Symposium – University of South Australia  (now rescheduled)

The South Australian School of Art advised that their Blind Spot one-day symposium will now be held at Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre in Adelaide on Sat 16 October 2004.

The Blind Spot symposium represents the latest partnership between South Australian School of Art and Nexus Multicultural Arts Centre and will explore current issues of cultural diversity in art education. A range of speakers(educators, artists, contemporary theorists, students and others) will address aspects of tertiary as well as secondary visual art teaching. As an opportunity for benchmarking best practice in this area, this symposium is conceived as a first stage towards opportunities for further research in contemporary Australian art education, as that relates to cultural diversity, multiculturalism and internationalisation. Blind Spot will provide various perspectives, vital information and vigorous debate.

For further information, contact sally.matthews@unisa.edu.au or pam.zeplin@unisa.edu.au.

Ð Top Ð

Impact 2004 – the 6th Annual WebCT Users Conference

Online registration is now available for IMPACT 2004 – the 6th Annual WebTV User Conference in Orlando, Florida from 11-15 July 2004. WebTV users, industry experts and academic leaders are expected to lead the discussion.

Conference rates and group discount details can be found at : http://webct.rs02.net/servlet/cc5?OJ1QWWRQTVHtpkhgQumgjhxHgmQLKgmQLKmQHmV2VR

The Biennale of Electronic Arts

Where: Perth
When: September

The Biennale of Electronic Arts in Perth (BEAP) is widely recognized as the premiere electronic arts event in the Asia Pacific region and is the only biennale of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.

Held for 3 months every 2 years in Perth, Western Australia, BEAP examines the explosion of activities in the intersection of art, science and digital technologies. Under the research question of "SameDifference" the biennale is split into 5 areas of exploration:- Bio, Data, Distributed, Perceptual and Sonic Differences.

Papers are invited from artists and researchers in all disciplines who are involved in exploring through theory and practice interrelationships between the various thematic notions of 'difference' and the 'denial of difference'’.

Further information: see http://www.beap.org/

Research into Practice 2004

Theme: What is the role of the artefact in art and design research?

The third international biennial conference on the foundations of practice-based research in art and design will be held at the University of Hertfordshire UK on Friday 2 July 2004.

To get onto the mailing list send your details to m.a.biggs@herts.ac.uk or see
web site http://www.herts.ac.uk/artdes/research/res2prac/confhome.htm

Ð Top Ð

9. News and Information

ANAT Synapse Art and Science Residency Program

Call for proposals from Australian New Media Artists
The Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT) is calling for proposals from Australian new media artists interested in working collaboratively in residence with one of the following host science organisations:

• CSIRO Marine Research in Hobart;
• E-World Lab at the School of Computer and Information Science in Adelaide; and
• Australian National Botanic gardens and the Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research in Canberra.

These residencies are part of the Synapse Art and Science Residency Program which aims to build new creative partnerships between scientists and artists, science institutions and arts organisations. The program supports professional development and research opportunities for Australian new media artists.

The residency is expected to take place between July 2004 and June 2005 and is available to Australian artists with experience in new media arts practice and an interest in science.

For further information contact anat@anat.org.au or see web site www.anat.org.au.

Bundanon Residency for Emerging Artists

This year, BUNDANON expanded its artist in residence program to offer places to the best honours and masters students graduating from Australian art schools. The Bundanon Residency for Emerging Artists provides a unique opportunity for budding artists to make a transition from the relative security of art school to the real world of professional practice.

The residencies offer exclusive accommodation and studio space free from charge but the recipients are asked to provide their own linen, food and art making materials. The judging panel will be seeking graduates from all Australian art schools in their field and will award four places each year. Art Schools are asked to help identify suitable candidates from which the selection will be made.

Any art school wishing to participate by providing an opportunity for their graduates to be considered for selection should contact the Executive Officer of Bundanon on 02 4423 5999 or email rene@bundanon.com.au for details. Visit www.bundanon.com.au for general information.

Position Vacancy – Dean, RMIT

RMIT University in Melbourne seeks to appoint an outstanding person for this executive role. The Portfolio covers communications, creative arts, design, education and social sciences. There are 11 schools.

Further information in confidence to Marli Wallace, consultant assisting the University – contact marli@marliwallace.com.au or telephone 08 93356597 or 043 8356659.

New ACUADS Executive Officer

Gaida Macs has taken over from Alison Munro as the Executive Officer for ACUADS. She can be contacted on either email Gaida.Macs@anu.edu.au or telephone (02) 6125 3970 or Mob: 0438 885 359.

ACUADS Web Site Update

The web site for ACUADS is currently being updated. More information in the next newsletter.

Ð Top Ð