Dear List,

I have been following this conversation since the ICA fiasco with
great interest and worry.  I am studying in my 4th and final year in
The National College of Art and Design for a BA in Fine Art Media.
Like any newbie, the Media Department since its birth seven years ago
has spent endless energy to establish itself within the college and
further afield.  At present it is the only growing department in the
college.  Many obstacles have been overcome by a far too few in number
but committed and passionate Media faculty of tutors and technicians.
More significantly, the course students actively promote the
department and represent themselves within and outside the college
with extremely high standards.  For the first time the departments
students will have the opportunity in June 2009 to exhibit their
degree show together and on campus as all other departments do every
year.  A lot has been achieved and a lot more has yet to be, but the
future is bright.  This is just one college but internationally there
are many with similar departmental situations.

It is worrying to see the closure of institutions that a new
generation of artists may have worked with in the future. What is more
worrying is that many of this new generation are blind to this
happening.  It is they who will be most affected by it in the next ten
years.  That so much energy and belief is exhausted to validate Media
on their own level seems almost wasted when larger institutions like
the ICA disregard Media as a single worthy field.  Please pardon my
ignorance,  I am just wondering what is being done on an international
level to communicate this to the next generation of Media Artists?
Where are the past and prospective students of the MA in Creative
Writing and New Media in Monfort University?  What decisions were made
in the lead up to the closure?  Who's opinions were and were not asked
of?  Did anyone make their voice heard regardless?  And why was it not
listened to?  These are all important questions to be asked.  We know
that such closures are wrong and shortsighted.  To prevent this
happening again and again we must assess the why, and the greater
Media Art community must take responsibility for this.  And there is a
large and dynamic new community out there.  Again, please excuse any
naivety evident on my part.  As a part of the next generation I am
just wondering what is being done and what can be done, and I know
this is the most knowledgeable forum to ask.

Kind Regards,  Niamh Ferris

On Sun, Nov 30, 2008 at 6:27 AM, Simon Biggs <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> As Paul notes below, this is worrying. Another sign of institutional
> attrition?
>
> Regards
>
> Simon
>
> ------ Forwarded Message
> From: Paul Brown <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Computer Arts Society <[log in to unmask]>, Paul Brown
> <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: Sun, 30 Nov 2008 09:48:28 +0000
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: [CAS] Unique MA to close
>
> Please forward to other concerned groups and individuals
>
> It has come to my attention that the MA Creative Writing and New Media
> run by Sue Thomas and Kate Pullinger is being closed down by the De
> Montfort University in Leicester, UK.  This is a unique programme and
> one of only a few worldwide that address the future of literature and
> writing in the networked age and it is run by two internationally
> recognised authorities in the field.
>
> As CAS members will know this institution made a pioneering
> contribution to the computer arts in the early years and it is to be
> regretted that the university can now consider closing a leading-edge
> programme that builds on such a pre-eminent history.  It is my opinion
> that they should instead be promoting the MA as a flagship opportunity
> to consolidate DMU's reputation in an field that addresses important
> and timely scholarly, social and economic issues regarding our future
> in a networked world.
>
> The official announcement is here:
>
>   http://nlabnetworks.typepad.com/cwnm/
>
> And it is discussed on Chris Meade's blog (where you can leave your
> own comments and protests):
>
>   http://bookfutures.blogspot.com/2008/11/recessing.html
>
> If you wish to contribute to the debate (at Chris Meade's blog) please
> do so as soon as possible because the window for changing the
> university's decision is closing.
>
> Paul Brown
> Chair, the Computer Arts Society
>
> ====
> Paul Brown - based in the UK Aug-Dec 2008
> mailto:[log in to unmask] == http://www.paul-brown.com
> UK Mobile +44 (0)794 104 8228 == USA fax +1 309 216 9900
> Skype paul-g-brown
> ====
> Visiting Professor - Sussex University
> http://www.cogs.susx.ac.uk/ccnr/research/creativity.html
> ====
>
> ------ End of Forwarded Message
>
>
>
> Simon Biggs
> Research Professor
> edinburgh college of art
> [log in to unmask]
> www.eca.ac.uk
> www.eca.ac.uk/circle/
>
> [log in to unmask]
> www.littlepig.org.uk
> AIM/Skype: simonbiggsuk
>
>
> Edinburgh College of Art (eca) is a charity registered in Scotland, number SC009201
>



-- 
signature