It’s been a huge week for VCA in Parliament, at the besieged Wilin Centre and at the VCAM Graduation Ceremony. This post is a big one, so we’ve separated it into three sections: LIBS & GREENS SLAM BRUMBY OVER VCA Monday’s (17/5) Public Accounts and Estimates Committee hearing in the Victorian Parliament saw the Brumby [...]
For all it’s flaws, Ziggy Switkowski’s Review of VCAM got at least one thing right – training based on “studio-based learning, intensive practice and performance” works. And what better proof does the University need than the incredible achievement of the VCA Film & TV school at Cannes as discussed in The Age today (15/05/10): Nicolette [...]
After six months and 371 public submissions, the University of Melbourne- run Review into VCAM’s future has been released. Quick Report summary: Recommends Melbourne Model be put off until 2013 pending another review. Suggests the Melbourne Model has been successfully applied in VCAM Music. Recommends Uni Melb consider the return of VCA Music Theatre and [...]
The Age have revealed the truth behind the Melbourne Model – $200K degrees. Read the article here. As we have always known, the Melbourne Model is about keeping students at University longer, and pushing them into the expensive post-graduate education sphere where fees are not regulated. VCAM Music is already under the Melbourne Model. The [...]
In true University of Melbourne style, Head of Performing Arts & VCAM Deputy Dean Kristy Edmunds sent out a quiet little email at the end of Tuesday inviting people to view concepts for a new “Visual Identity” for VCA – staff and students have until today to view the concepts. Yes that’s right – less [...]
In a reminder of what we’re fighting for, The Australian has reported that two short films by Victorian College of the Arts students are Australia’s only representatives at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Truly this is a remarkable achievement by the VCA Film & TV School under the most trying circumstances imposed by the University [...]
The Chair of the VCAM Review Ziggy Switkowski (also Chair of Opera Australia), whilst lamenting OA’s financial status for 2009 to The Age, looked longingly back to 2008 when the company posted a $837,785 surplus thanks to a musical! Mr Switkowski calls it the “My Fair Lady Effect”, with much of OA’s 2008 surplus due [...]
Respected arts journalist Michaela Boland of The Australian suggests the hope placed in Kevin 07 in terms of support for the arts, was perhaps misplaced. The article published 10/04/10 shows anger is rife amongst the arts industry – the traditional Labor heartland, with everyone from Melbourne Theatre Company to Sydney’s Company B Belvoir frustrated with [...]
The Age have revealed VCAM Management and the University of Melbourne have voted for allowing the consideration of ENTER scores (Year 12 Marks) for VCA applicants. This is completely against VCA’s traditional focus on talent-based entry which was SUPPOSED to have been protected by the merger Heads of Agreement. Read the story here. One can’t [...]
In welcome news, the Chair of the Review Committee Ziggy Switkowski has committed to three student forums, where students will be able talk directly to the Chair without the Heads of School or Deputy Dean present. It is absolutely essential that every VCAM student attend the forum for their discipline because this Review (and indeed [...]