AAANZ president Wendy Garden has written to the Vice-Chancellor of La Trobe University to express our concerns over proposed changes to the Visual Arts program and the Visual Cultures major at La Trobe University.
AAANZ has expressed its concerns stating that:
The Art Association of Australia New Zealand (AAANZ) offers its strong support to the Visual Arts program and the Visual Cultures major at La Trobe University. Now facing major challenges due to the University’s restructuring plans, Visual Arts and Visual Cultures are successful and distinctive units which make an important contribution to research and education in this region. It is therefore essential that they are resourced to continue and thrive as we enter the recovery phase after the unprecedented health and economic downturn that has transformed our society during 2020. This is even more important given the regrettable decision to drop major disciplinary programs at La Trobe including those in Art History, Screen, and Theatre.
La Trobe University has a proud tradition of supporting higher education in both greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, providing access to large numbers of students, many of whom are the first in family to attend university and includes a significant cohort of low SES students. Under the challenging circumstances of the recent financial downturn, the University Is to be commended for keeping Visual Arts at the Bendigo campus as a new dedicated degree. However, the Association is concerned about potential cuts to staff and resourcing of this program, and of the new Visual Cultures major, as the University looks to organisational restructures in 2021.
The full letter is here: La Trobe letter The Art Association of Australia New Zealand
We have received a response from Professor John Dewar which is presented below:
Dear Dr Garden,
Thank you for your email about La Trobe’s Visual Arts program.
A proposal has been released to staff in our School of Humanities and Social Sciences for consultation, and is part of the University’s broader response to the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which means we must carefully examine all elements of our activity and determine those programs of study that are viable for us to offer in the very challenging budget conditions created by COVID-19.
We are currently in the financial recovery phase of our new 10-year Strategic Plan and, as we clearly outline in the Plan, the financial impact of COVID-19 means that, regrettably, some courses and subjects which are not sustainable may close. In order to emerge from the pandemic as a stronger, more resilient, and necessarily more efficient institution, we must focus on our core strengths so that we can recover financially and build the foundations for sustainable growth and reinvestment.
Even though we are considering closing the BCA we have committed to retaining the Visual Arts program in Bendigo and will be establishing a refreshed standalone Visual Arts degree program. It will be community focused and leverage the strong partnerships we have with the Bendigo Art Gallery, NGV, MAMA in Albury, and many others to ensure a vibrant and engaged visual arts presence in regional Victoria. Creative Writing will also remain with its strong and growing research and teaching program based within the English discipline.
Consultation on the proposal has now closed and although this consultation is directed to staff in the University’s School of Humanities and Social Sciences, we will certainly take your comments on board.
Regards,
John
Professor John Dewar AO
Vice-Chancellor and President | La Trobe University | Victoria 3086 | www.latrobe.edu.au