Dr Ziggy Switkowski, Former Telstra CEO

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. He has also had a very successful corporate career and headed a review into the nuclear industry. Perhaps it’s good to have someone who can come to VCA with fresh eyes? Or is he not qualified for this crucial role? What do you think? Post your comments below

We wait to see who will form the rest of the Review Committee as to whether UoM are really interested in giving Mr Switkowski and Ms Delahunty colleagues from a range of viewpoints

You can read the University of Melbourne Press Release here

You can also read a recent article from  09-11-26 in The Age

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

Students & Lynne Kosky at the VCA

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” at Melbourne University.

Photos of the hand over can be found here.

This is an important step in the campaign, but there is still more you can do to help; become a fan on Facebook, or Twitter, spread the word about the changes and pass on the newly released industry document.

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

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!

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.

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)