SaveVCA

The Discussion Paper process has many flaws so a bit of work is needed to make it work for VCA. Click for tips on making a submission, and what SAVE VCA is doing to try and get more information from the University.

Crikey.com have revealed the UoM have accidentally made live a new VCAM website which aggressively attacks all opinions other than their own, showing the UoM interest in “consulting” is ZERO.The content of the website is only days old (it references the Discussion Paper) and has numerous dollar figure missing (written in the text as “$XX”) showing the UoM writer [...]

In an move that is polarising opinion, UoM have appointed former Telstra CEO Ziggy Switkowski to Chair the VCA Review Committee.
Ziggy has never worked as an artist, nor as an artist educator, nor had a he run an arts business, but he does have exposure to non-UoM opinions through his role at the Australian Major Performing Arts Group. [...]

It’s taken seven months of pressure to force a formal consultation process out of Vice Chancellor Glyn Davis and VCAM Dean Sharman Pretty.
Only problem is they will be playing judge and jury in the “discussion”.
SAVE VCA welcome the University of Melbourne (UoM) finally opening up discussion about the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) to [...]

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

Victorian Arts Minister Lynne Kosky yesterday received a 15,000 signature petition in opposition to the changes to the Victorian College of the Arts. Current and past students were on hand to facilitate the hand over, completed by David Haidon, the former VCA Student Union President.
This comes after more than 150 staff “apply for voluntary redundancies” [...]

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 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. [...]

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 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 [...]

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 [...]