PENRITH PRESS ARTICLE
Thankyou to the Anonymous person who let us know about this article published last week in the Penrith Press:

Get college in on the act

06Mar07

ACTING and fine art courses would ``limp along'' at the University of Western Sydney unless Werrington TAFE could lend some extra space.

University Dean of Arts Wayne McKenna addressed a Penrith Council meeting last month after councillors had expressed concerns about the university's commitment to the area late last year.

In December, one of Australia's most celebrated acting institutions, Theatre Nepean, was closed along with the theatre-making course.

The university also cut its intake of Fine Arts students.

Professor McKenna said demand for these courses had dropped while more students wanted to do Communications or Design.

``We let students do what they want to do,'' Professor McKenna told the council. He said the university had spent $1.5 million upgrading its media precinct, including new television cameras.

Acting was ``the single most expensive course'' on offer and the fine art and acting courses had lost $1.5 million last year.

The university includes floor space used for a course when it is budgetting, so ``chalk and talk subjects'' cost less.

``The TAFE has more space, if we could share with TAFE it would help. We're also talking to local galleries. This would save a lot of money.

``Galleries are a big space for the university to provide and put pressure on programs.''

Professor McKenna said the acting and art courses would resume in a more limited format in 2008.

Penrith Mayor Pat Sheehy said if floor space was to be included in the budget than TAFE could provide the studio space.

He suggested the council lobby government for funding to make this happen.

Councillor Greg Davies suggested a working party made up of members of the arts and education community be formed to start lobbying.

http://www.penrithpress.com.au/article/2007/03/06/2177_news.html

UWS STUDENT RELATED EVENTS

Perhaps the most important action artists and art students can take in response to continual cutbacks (not to mention suspension of intake) to their university degree is to create a strong presence out there in the 'real' world with some kick arse art. Take for example the recently formed collective The Gift Project: "Seven recent graduates of Fine Arts and Electronic Arts; Raymond Haber, Rohan Squires, (name withheld), Samuel Bruce, Stella Rufus, Vincent O'Connor and Vaughan O'Connor. The collective is aimed at keeping UWS's vibrant arts scene alive. Forming as a reaction to the changes to Arts courses at UWS the collective strives to promote the amazing talent that has been produced through UWS. A CD label has been established by the collective and the label's first CD includes artists such as Shape Moreton, Axel Rosie O'Donnell, The Garden Band and many more.
The launch party of The Gift Project will start rocking at 6pm, Saturday the 10th of March at Lanfranchis, 144 Cleveland Street Chippendale UWS students and friends are urged to come along and show support for UWS Art Education. After all, Arts at UWS could be a fantastic opportunity for your child, family member or friend. Don't let Electronic Arts and Fine Arts slip away, GET ACTIVE!" (Referenced from http://www.myspace.com/giftprojectaudio)

Also check out: http://myspace.com/gift_project for further information about The Gift Project.

In addition last Friday night new media artists Wade Marynowsky, Peter Newman, Andrew Gadow, Samuel Bruce & Cameron Foster performed live synaesthetic media works at the brand new location of Performance Space at CarriageWorks this was the launch of the experimental DVD label 'Demux'. We are sorry to say that we are reporting this after the event, but keep an eye out for the brand new label 'Demux'.

Please let us know of any exhibitions, events, and performances related to the Western Sydney art scene, and let’s kick some arse by leading by example.