Cumbria Institute of the Arts has a long history in Carlisle which began with the establishment of a ‘Society for the Encouragement of Fine Arts’ in October 1822 with the purpose of encouraging young artists. Over the intervening years it has metamorphosed many times - The Academy of Arts in 1823 - The Carlisle School of Art in 1854, and in 1950 it was renamed as the Carlisle College of Art that in turn became Cumbria College of Art and Design, then Cumbria Institute of the Arts. The Institute was the only specialist institute of the arts in the North-West of England and one of only a small number of such institutions in the country. It's present reincarnation is as part of the University of Cumbria.
Over my 20 + years in Cumbria I have studied there on various courses, been an artist practioner on a AA2A placement, taken part as a "stakeholder" in various consultations, bought supplies at the art shop, used its printing facilities, attended performances and diploma shows, met and mentored students through my involvement with Potfest and had numerous drinks and lunches in its canteen - but my over-riding passion for the place was for its wonderful arts library. As an inspirational place to further new directions it was second to none. I'd start with the bare bones of an idea maybe seeded by browsing the contemporary craft magazines from around the globe, then research it through the sculpture shelves, the ceramics section, take it up through the textile magazines, develop it through browsing the just published section - a whole delight of artistic exploration was there to be delved into. Sadly no longer.........apparently over summer it was closed down and all its contents moved - no staff or student consultation - to another campus in the centre of Carlisle
"The suggestion proposed that an expansion of accommodation for practitioner courses should take place at Brampton Road, in the space which was previously occupied by the library. A relocation of the library to close proximity to other learning facilities was deemed to be the best solution, given all the circumstances.
Because of the urgency in securing agreement from senior management colleagues and implementing decisions and arranging to have the necessary work carried out before students return this month it has been necessary for senior managers to make executive decisions in relation to the library
Library stock from Brampton Road has now been moved to Fusehill Street and the reserve store at Milbourne Street. The most popular 20% of stock used by faculty students is available in the new Arts library at Fusehill Street and will be available to students on a seven days a week basis. The reserve stock at Milbourne Street is available for browsing on four days each week and arrangements are in place for fast ordering and delivery to an LISS pick-up location for reserve stock.
Charles Mitchell, Dean of the Faculty of the Arts, said: "We realise the importance of having a good library which is accessible for all our students. By relocating the Brampton Road library to the centre of Carlisle, we believe the student experience will be enhanced. "
Believe all you want Charles - but deep down you should be ashamed, very ashamed of presiding over the dismantling of one of the best inspirational art collections in the north-west.
"The true university these days is a collection of books." - Thomas Carlyle
"Make thy books thy companions. Let thy cases and shelves be thy pleasure grounds and gardens." - Judah ibn-Tibbon (12th century)
"It is, however, not to the museum, or the lecture-room, or the drawing-school, but to the library, that we must go for the completion of our humanity. It is books that bear from age to age the intellectual wealth of the world. "- Owen Meredith, English poet and statesman, 1831-91
"Medicine for the soul." - - Inscription over the door of the Library at Thebes
"Drinking up 20% of your medicine probably isn't as effective as having access to 100% of it" - Christine Cox
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment