PARADOX THIRD WORKING CONFERENCE MAY 2009
IN PALERMO ITALY HOSTED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF PALERMO
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONFERENCE WILL GO ON THE SITE SHORTLY – TO REGISTER INTEREST OR MAKE A SUGGESTION PLEASE CONTACT US NOW
WELCOME
Welcome to the PARADOX website.
This website offers an insight in to Fine Art Higher Education in Europe with information provided by artists and tutors directly involved in the delivery of Fine Art Higher Education programmes. The site aims to enable tutors and course leaders to communicate with each other and to promote greater understanding of the particular issues facing colleagues in different areas of Europe.
REGISTER
The main sections of the site focus on:
· Archiving and supporting European Fine Art projects;
· Representing Fine Art in Europe via an ‘Atlas’ of Fine Art provision with links to institutions and relevant sites;
· A collection of papers and links relevant to Fine Art Higher Education
In order to access the papers and participate in Forum discussions you will need to register, this is easily done by clicking on register and following the instructions.
THE AIMS OF PARADOX, THE FINE ART EUROPEAN FORUM
· To provide a network for the European Fine Art Higher Education sector that facilitates discussion, exchange and the sharing of information;
· To represent and disseminate views from European Fine Art institutions and teachers to ELIA and other European Institutions;
· To consider and discuss the implications and consequences of changes (social, economic and cultural) on Fine Art practice and Higher Education;
· To document developments in European Fine Art Higher Education.
WHY PARADOX ?
Fine Art HE in Europe is rooted in the rich and diverse regional traditions and specialisms of art practice and pedagogy. Meanwhile it also reflects the constantly expanding field of contemporary art practice and associated history and theory. In this way there are numerous values and aspirations that Fine Art HE in Europe shares. The choice of the name Paradox reflects this at times awkward relationship between the local and the global. There is also a paradox about a group that, on one hand constitutes individuals arguing for the right for their courses to be distinctive with their own unique approach, while on the other hand forming a cohesive, strong and (on occasion) united voice. Paradoxes may seem problematic but they can offer new insights, or throw more light upon old ‘truths’. There are also, of course, many paradoxes built in to the process of teaching Fine Art that make it an ongoing and stimulating challenge and a subject that requires discussion and debate.
WHAT HAS PARADOX DONE SO FAR?
In 2006 Paradox members collaborated to write the EU ‘Tuning Document’ that set out to describe the characteristics of Fine Art Higher Education in Europe. This was one way in which Paradox represented the vital role that Fine Art programmes play in the cultural communities of Europe and the wider world. The Tuning Document has since been translated and employed as a guide and discussion paper in a number of countries in Europe (you can download a copy in the Papers section of the site).
Paradox participants were involved in the Socrates thematic network InterArtes (http://www.inter-artes.org/index1.php?p1=ia&p2=0) and are currently involved in Artesnet (http://www.elia-artschools.org/artesnet/home/index) and other ELIA (http://www.elia-artschools.org/) research projects.
So far Paradox has had 2 working conferences, the first hosted by Utrecht School of the Arts, Netherlands and the second hosted by Central Saint Martins College of Art, UK.
INVITATION
Paradox extends an open invitation to Fine Art programme leaders and tutors in Europe to submit material to the site.
Contributions are also sought for the Forum where you are invited to raise issues that you consider to be relevant to Fine Art HE in Europe and to respond to topics already identified. These issues can be responded to directly by other participants and may form the basis for discussions, working groups and papers at future Paradox meetings and conferences.
CONTACT US
Please contact us if you have any material for the website; would like to be included in our mailing list; or have any queries about our activities.
We are keen to enlarge our pool of participants so please tell us about yourselves and send the following information: Name, Institution, Role within institution, Email address.
WHO ARE WE?
Visit the People section of the website for a list of Paradox participants.
New chair of Paradox: Isidro López-aparicio Pérez, University of Granada, Spain
Conference steering group
Kevin Atherton, National College of Art and Design, Dublin, Ireland
Paula Crabtree, Bergen National Academy of the Arts, Norway
Anna Daucikova, Academy of Fine Arts and Design Bratislava, Slovakia
Umberto de Paola, University of Palermo, Italy
Andres Wie Chi Rink, Utrecht School of the Arts, Holland
Tamiko O'Brien, Wimbledon College of Art, UAL, UK
Associate members
Sean Cummins, Nottingham Trent University, UK
Mo Throp, Chelsea College of Art and Design, UAL, UK