Independent Art School
Martyn Edwards
Hull, Yorkshire, UK
http://website.lineone.net/~nschool/ias.htm
- Independent Art School is as yet an undecided association, art school, art
work, collaboration, conspiracy, co-operative, educational philosophy,
forum, foundation, grouping, network, participatory democracy, party,
organisation .......
- It could be any or none of these things......
Its creation and launch will be at the New Hull School of Art Conference in
October which is aimed to bring together all those interested in aspects of
education or art, especially higher art education and who are dismayed by
the lack of practitioner led decision making.
While the New Hull School of Art is one persons evolving concept and
representative of a particular group of people, the IAS will provide the
possibility for participatory democracy - for students, tutors, artists,
educationalists and anyone who is interested to have a valid say about
related issues.
This is currently lacking within the structures of higher education and the
creation of the IAS will be an attempt to fill a gap and provide examples
and initiative.
The IAS will therefore be a constructive approach to a currently negative
debate. The opinions and ideas of those participating will necessarily
differ, the IAS although currently undecided will represent the need for
variety and alternatives.
'School' is not necessarily appropriate to describe those within education,
and education is not necessarily limited to those within institutions.
'Independent' should not solely be seen to be private, when it can also
represent autonomy and can be inclusive.
Our initial reasons are simple and straightforward.
They do not need to be set in stone.
By its existence, the IAS would hopefully put to question existing
structures as well as its own reasons for being (which will always evolve).
s.robinson7
full time at Loughborough University as the male model. But even when
decisions are taken by practitioners within education they are not always
going to please other practitioners. Unfortunately fashion plays its part
in education as it does in any other aspect of life. A few years ago
Nottingham Trent (I think it was that one, anyway) employed approximately 9
life models, and all was hunky-dory until new name takes over and almost
overnight the place became a haven for conceptual art and all of the models
got the hessian.
Now Im not saying that conceptual art does not have its place, but because
of the narrow-mindedness of decisionmakers at the time a whole stack of
students have gone through University without acquiring the basic skills of
traditional artist's. That cannot be a good thing......can it?
If the decision is a good one it surely doesn't matter who makes it. All
schools should, like Loughborough Uni., encourage a wide breadth of art
forms, including traditional skills and contemporary skills. All good
decision makers cannot disagree with this. The truth is self evident.
Keep us informed of your venture. Power to your elbow!
Regards
Steve B Robinson, RAM, BA
"Martyn Edwards" <martyn...@dreamy.karoo.co.uk> wrote in message
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