Higher Education
Up until 2004 it was my pleasure to work with students and staff in different colleges and universities. In particular I enjoyed working with the students on projects. It was fun, often demanding but rewarding when a student progressed.
1995 - 2000 (0.5 post) Programme Co-ordinator, HNC Public Arts Management Programme at Barnet College
In 1992 after discussions with Dave Fudger at Barnet College, I devised an idea to do a HNC Public Art.Working with Chris Vessey and Dave over the next few years we devised, developed and then took to validation a Part time HNC Public Art. The course was validated as the first year of a degree programme with Middlesex University and became part of The School of Art as well as part of Barnet College Art and Design Department. From September 1995 to Christmas 2000 I was course leader over a programme that started with 19 students in the first year of the programme, When I left it had over 100 students. It developed into an HN Public Art programme linked to a range of other HN programmes giving the student more choice.
The essense of the programme was that the student had to go out of the college and complete a series of Public Art/Community projects in real settings. This action learning would prepare and introduce them to how to do future projects after they completed the programme, while enrolled they would be supported and given a learning programme that would support them on this course. Over the five years many projects were completed over a diverse Public Art range of projects. The tutors included artists Tricia Cox and Tim Clapcott. We were keen to work with groups outside the college systems, so schools, community groups, community councils, etc were keenly sought. We worked with the local coucil to help them develop signage and other projects. Our biggest relationship was Bromley By Bow Healthy Living Centre, where many students completed the programme. We often had Community Lunches at Bromley, where various projects around food, community, public art would develop.
We worked with students across the UK creating Public Art and Community Art Projects at Bromley By Bow Healthy Living Centre, Barnet General Hospital, Craigmillar, Coventry and beyond.
A great example of this was completing 30 projects in the local Barnet General Hospital including photography, ceiling and wall murals. To complete a project the students work with Candice Hurwitz, Arts Director of the hospital and tutor on the HNC program to produce a proposal. The student would try and work with and consult with those who will use the space. Once the proposal was agreed by staff, students, tutors and patients the artwork could be completed.
We held two Communiversity conferences which attracted international speakers from Mexico, Autralia and USA. Communiversity was a term devised from Craigmillar in the 1970's and sought to create a more community centred approach to Higher Education.
After moving to Scotland in 2000 I developed with Helen Crummy a degree programme based on communiversity principles. Taking the experience of the HNC public Art programme a stage further. In 2004 I published a short booklet documenting the experiences of working within a communiversity ethos.
Visiting Lecturer
1986 - 89 0.5 Tutor, Barnet College, HND Graphics (0.5 post).
1989 Colchester Institute, HND Graphics.
1989 Pimlico Arts and Media, Graphics course.
1990 - 92 Chelsea School of Art, BA Public Art/MA Public Art.
1991 Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art, BA Illustration and Printmaking.
1992 - 1995 Camberwell College, BA Graphics.
1992 Nene College, Northampton, ND Graphics.
1993 BA Art in Social Context, University of West England.
1993 Stockport College, HND Illustration/HND Printed Textiles.
1993 - 94 Falmouth College, HND Graphics.
2000 - 2004 General Course, Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art.
2003/4 Kirkcudbright Summer School
Lecture tours of Australia 93 and 94: Victorian College, Swinburne Secondary, RMIT University, Swinburne University, Monash University, Gipplands College, Ballarat University, Curtin University, Perth Charles Strut University and East Gippslands TAFE.