Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 11:14:51 +0000
From: "Gill CHAPMAN(SCS)" <[log in to unmask]>
Dear CADE Members and Friends,
CADE is at a crossroads. There are decisions to be made about our future on
which we wish to consult you. We also want to invite you to join the committee
which will shape the future of CADE - and to spread this invitation to anybody
else who you think might be interested.
CADE began in 1995, at a time when the use of IT within art and design was
still new, exciting and challenging. Our primary aim has been to promote the
creative and innovative use of computers in art and design in higher education
and over the years we feel we have made a significant contribution to this
objective. We have done this through our biennial conferences, our annual
postgraduate forums, our contributions to national bodies such as the RCA and
AHRB, and a variety of other activities. However, the situation has changed
dramatically since we first formed CADE. The use of computers is now ubiquitous
in both practice and education in art and design and we feel that CADE in its
original form may no longer be needed. Can we re-focus our energies and our
activities in such a way as to remain useful to our original constituency -
those working at the coalface of art and design education?
Here are some initial thoughts:
International expansion has been a long-standing aim of ours, and there has
been significant overseas involvement in our conferences - but we have very few
overseas members and activities between conferences have been entirely
UK-based. However, in 2004 there will be a European CADE conference in
Copenhagen. We would like this to act as a springboard to a new international
existence for CADE.
Should we therefore make changes in our aims and structure to accommodate
potential new international members?
There is currently no other major conference which covers such a wide range of
art and design disciplines as CADE - from industrial design to performance art,
and from architecture to textile design. Conferences have dealt with the impact
of IT on all of these, and their emphasis has usually been issue-based rather
than 'techy'.
Should we refocus the work of CADE to retain the cross-disciplinary approach
while moving away from the emphasis on IT? Should the name be changed to
reflect this?
>From a practical point of view, many, although by no means all, of our
committee members have been involved with CADE since its inception. Since we
became independent of the conference organisation we have had two Chairs who
have each served for four years, the maximum time allowed by the constitution.
At the AGM next April a new Chair must be elected to take over, and the
committee will also need substantial new membership.
If we are to survive and flourish we need a new Chair and new committee members
who have a new vision and a commitment to develop CADE for the future.
Could this be you?
The future of CADE will form the most important item on the agenda of the AGM
in April 2003, and you will shortly receive notification of the discussion list
we have set up to start the debate now. You may also like to check out the
website (www.cade.ac.uk). Please join in the debate and contact me ASAP if you
are interested in standing for a new committee.
With best wishes,
Gill Chapman (outgoing Chair)
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