The Australian National University (ANU) has initiated a Recovery Plan in response to the impact of COVID-19 on the higher education sector. The plan focuses on financial sustainability in teaching and research, and mobilising green initiatives in the context of the role of a national university.  

Like other divisions of the university, School of Art & Design (SOA&D) is undergoing financial, structural and operational change within that proposed plan. The College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) change management document identifies the huge adaptations we’ve made as a School to continually innovate and positively position ourselves. However it acknowledges a risk to our sustainability across the School. 

As a friend of the School, you will know that our studios and our studio practice is critical to our teaching and research. While we have expanded curricula and reorientated disciplines in recent years, like other art and design institutions, we require substantial support to maintain the range of disciplines. We now offer a degree in design, our courses in digital media have expanded and our revised visual arts degree is based on flexibility and disparate student interest across studios. While the change management proposed requires reduction to staff and operations, these will be achieved within the terms of the new curriculum, building on existing strategies of collaboration, cross disciplinary teaching and learning, and connection to our research hubs. 

Sadly maintaining the broadest range of disciplines nationally is now being challenged. The change management proposal is to reduce staffing. First with voluntary separations, and now through proposed staff changes in specific disciplines, across the gallery and technical support. While the prospect of losing disciplines is truly challenging, and devastating for the five individuals who may lose their roles, the changes are directed at greater financial sustainability. We remain committed to studio practice and will continue to deliver a high-quality studio-based teaching and learning experience and “make things”. Further administrative staff consolidation is proposed, in all 12 CASS Schools not just Art & Design and Music─these administrative roles incur no job losses. 

Within this confronting environment, there has been good news and concrete signs of the School’s outstanding future prospects. SOA&D has continued to recruit new staff with ground breaking practices and international reputations who will also contribute to our stellar teaching and research performance. Repairs to storm damage effecting our heritage buildings are being completed. We have proposed a new maker space to the university that will support interdisciplinary making practices while the proposed renovation and new building extension remain on the university’s infrastructure schedule. In 2020, we have a very high volume of applications to our three degrees and continue working toward our commitment to our current students.  

And we are pleased to announce that Dr Beck Davis will commence as Head of the School at the beginning of 2021. Beck’s research focuses on design studies, examining design teams, how they collaborate and respond to complex problems; extremely topical work. The School will be in capable hands in the coming years.  

Yours sincerely,

Denise 

Professor Denise Ferris

Head of School  
ANU School of Art & Design