This event was organised by Q-Art in Collaboration with the Foundation Art and Design Course at Swansea College of Art at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) in partnership with Mission Gallery. Inspired by Beck and Cornford’s book The Art School and the Culture Shed, it invited people from across the sector (school, FE, HE, arts council, arts organisations) to discuss the theme of location and art education.

Key questions included:
What relationship does the art school have to its local community, schools, and arts scene? Does location impact on who does or does not attend art school or shape what its graduates go on to do? How does the location of the art school shape its curriculum? What role does online and distance learning have on widening participation in art education and how important is the physical learning/studio space? What is the role of international partnerships? What is the role of art school in society and how has this evolved?

Speakers:
David Alston (Arts Director, Arts Council Wales), Dr Ian Walsh (Dean, Swansea College of Art) Bella Kerr (course leader Foundation ScoA), Catrin Webster (BA Fine Art course leader ScoA), Amanda Roderick (Director, Mission Gallery), David Hooper and Mari Bradbury (Welsh Joint Education Committee), Sophie Hadaway (Raising the Bar), Swansea Foundation Alumni, Jenny Vobe (Saturday Arts School and Action Residency Programme, UWTSD), Matthew Cornford (Head of Critical Fine Art practice BA Brighton and author Art School Culture Shed), Kieren Reed (Undergraduate coordinator Slade School of Art), Christian Lloyd (Curriculum Leader BA Visual Communications Open College of the Arts), Michelle Letowska (Lecturer BA Fine Art Lews Castle College/University of the Highlands & Islands), Dereck Harris (Head of Painting at Wimbledon College of Art), Dr. Stephen Felmingham (Programme Leader: BA Painting, Drawing & Printmaking, Plymouth College of Art), Libby Anson (Student Employability and Enterprise manager, Glasgow School of Art), and Stephen Hunter (First year co-ordinator Edinburgh College of Art) .

Programme for Website

“It was a great opportunity to share experience with a network of equally committed art educators…people who are doing the ‘right thing’ for the ‘right reasons’. I met a number of new contacts and some very valuable follow-ups are planned!”

“The chance to network with such a large number of people was invaluable to my research, as was hearing the latest positions / issues / research from peers. The variety of speakers included in the programme was excellent!”

“It was a great opportunity to hear about arts education both historically and currently from a diverse range of perspectives. It was an incredible mix of specialists from across various geographical locations and organisations. The speakers spoke insightfully about their practice and posed interesting theories, giving much food for thought.”

“This had legs to be a whole weekend event!”