Glyn Davis and PM Kevin Rudd

Save VCA campaigner and VCA Music Theatre Alumni Scott Dawkins corrects the UoM “correction”

See the article in full here 09-09-11 Crikey.pdf

Hear the 06/11/09 Glyn Davis / Jon Faine (mentioned in the Crikey article) here

Elizabeth Bare - Head of University Services

Crikey.com reveal Elizabeth Baré, the head of university services, will call time on her 20-year career at the institution, as controversy rages over her implementation of “responsible division management”.

Crikey

Crikey also reveal VCA staff survey showed 40% of VCA staff would quit their positions rather than deal with further rationalisation directives from new dean Sharman Pretty. At the same meeting, 84% per cent of staff expressed a vote of no-confidence in Pretty.

Articles can be found as follows:

Was Melbourne Model stoush behind the Law dean’s departure?

Ill will across Melbourne uni claims another victim

Front Page of the Industry Document

In a response to frequent requests for detailed information about the status of VCA particularly from Arts Businesses, SAVE VCA have produced a document which gives readers “the full story” all in one place. Indeed many VCA staff and students will find some of the information new, such is the difficulty in getting detailed information from the University of Melbourne and from Dean Sharman Pretty. If you don’t have time to read the whole document, there is a two page Executive Summary (in the PDF below).

You will find a full copy of this document here > SaveVCA Information for the Arts

Professor James C. Hathaway Dean

From http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/11/02/was-melbourne-model-stoush-behind-the-law-deans-departure/

The departing dean of the University of Melbourne’s Law School, Professor James Hathaway, was at the centre of an ugly stoush over the implementation of the university’s controversial Melbourne Model just weeks before his resignation last Wednesday. A damning series of internal documents, obtained by Crikey, reveals widespread anger from within the elite faculty over changes that would have seen up to four professional staff sacked and replaced with three senior bureaucrats, leading to a budget blowout and a “pyramid-like professional staff structure”. Read more…

Peter Garrett Parliament Photo

Peter Garrett in 2005 as Shadow Minister for the Arts… (from http://www.petergarrett.com.au/62.aspx)

VCA is a world-class institution that has trained generations of Australian artists with a proud tradition of merit-based entry.

The HECS hikes at VCA mean that many of Australia’s future artists may be put off studying their field.

This is a terrible blow for the Australian arts community which has been enriched over the years by VCA.

It is amazing what an election can do…

This is yet more evidence that the Howard Government’s policy of making students and their families pay the price for $5 billion cuts to universities is culturally and economically irresponsible..

In 2009 Minister Garrett was quick to claim it’s “not my portfolio”…

Peter Garrett Letter "Not My Portfolio"

Let him know how you feel here…

OR

Send him a letter at:

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and the Arts
PO Box 6022
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

More discussion on Facebook

Screenshot of the VCA Video

Brumby has pledged to answer the question which gets the most votes.

Visit the YouTube channel, click on “Vote”, click on the “The VCA” video and give it a Green “Thumbs Up”

http://www.youtube.com/user/premierofvictoria

Thanks for your help!

Art Fail

Save VCA presents the VCA ‘all schools’ FAIL Ball!

FAIL Ball promises not only to be a great party, but is presented in an effort to further raise awareness and rally support for the school.

Celebrate the achievements of the school while you still can and to make a difference where you’re still able!

The ball is organised and run entirely by the students with the intention that funds raised through the sale of tickets will be used to implement projects in 2010 to help ensure the standard of education we have come to expect from our school. Proceeds from tickets sold will go towards setting up independent monthly tutorial sessions. We will pay – in effect – from our own pockets (and on top of our annual fees) for our sessionals to remain at the school. Suggestions for other projects that benefit VCA students are very much welcome too.

DETAILS!

When: Saturday 7 November 2009 – 8:00pm til late
Where: Donkey Wheel Basement, 673 Bourke Street, City (enter via Godfrey Street)
Theme: FAIL (see failblog.org, thereifixedit.com for inspiration)
Dress: wearable sculpture
What: Bands, dj’s, art installations! Watch Facebook for announcements!

Get Tickets on facebook (booking fee applies): http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=logo#/pages/VCA-Ball/159493851243
RSVP on facebook, see http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161866202067&index=1

Lynne Kosky - Minister For The Arts

From Herald Sun Article (11/10/2009)…

THE Victorian College of the Arts should become a federally-funded institution to rival NIDA, according to Victorian Arts Minister Lynne Kosky.

On a collision course with her federal Labor colleagues, Ms Kosky said she wanted the college to receive the same funding as Sydney’s National Institute of Dramatic Arts, whose graduates include Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett and Mel Gibson.

Read more…

You can view more Media Coverage here.

Please feel free to share your opinion below.

A Large Puppet Attends The SaveVCA Rally

THE FORMER DEAN:

“The configuration of the VCA is a source of envy among international art schools. Nowhere else in the world are the six creative art forms taught together on the one campus, in the heart of the arts precinct of an appreciative and sophisticated city. The two models that informed the founding of the VCA in the late 1960s and early 1970s were Cal Arts and the Julliard School in New York.”

Andrea Hull, Former Dean, VCA, Creating: the Victorian College of the Arts, Macmillan, 2000

THE NEW DEAN:

“I am astonished how siloed this campus has been. It’s siloed in its programs, it’s siloed in its narrow little degree programs… Producing elite dancers that only become ballet dancers, or actors that only act, is no longer appropriate in Australia.”

Sharman Pretty, Dean of VCAM (VCA), The Australian, June 5^th, 2009

THE VCA PHILOSOPHY

“The teaching philosophy of the College reflects a long held belief that learning comes from doing. As the tuition is practical, intensive and studio-based, class sizes are small, places are limited and admission is competitive.”

RISKING OUR ARTISTIC FUTURE

The pedagogy of the college has for years been one of practice, following the belief that this is absolutely necessary to successfully training artists. Via this model, the VCA has produced some of the most recognized and celebrated artists ever to have been found on Australian shores.

Now, the University of Melbourne, who acquired the VCA in 2007 after the Federal Government decided to cut funding to the college, is planning to implement the Melbourne Model at the VCA in 2011. The Melbourne Model – with parallels to a failing European system – is a model geared towards academic, research-based subjects, a model which is unsuitable for the Victorian College of the Arts. The Melbourne Model, as it stands, can only lead to a dilution of arts training at the VCA. No more dancers, actors, singers, designers, painters, sculptors, stage managers, film makers, musicians and puppeteers; only arts academics.

The Arts Culture in Melbourne, the nation’s Arts Capital, hangs in the balance, and we’re set on saving it. If you love the Arts, and value its cultural contribution, read on, and join us in SAVING THE VCA.

Learn more about the situation

Read our solution

Find out how you can help

The VCA was discussed in an epic debate at Parliament House

The transcript of yesterday’s marathon VCA debate that resulted in all Members unanimously passing the motion which ‘expresses its concern that the actions of the University of Melbourne, with limited consultation, have not been consistent with the assurance of the State Minister for Finance in the second reading debate of the Melbourne University (Victorian College of the Arts) Bill in 2006 that the integration would “guarantee that the College’s role as Australia’s pre-eminent provider of visual and performing arts training and education can continue.”

You can view the documents as follows

Liberal Notice Of Motion (pdf)

Hansard Document – Council 16 September 2009 (pdf)