Helen Baker, NAFAE Secretary: Co-ordinating Fine Art Events
Institution and title: |
Northumbria University . |
NAFAE position: |
Secretary |
NAFAE duties: |
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C.V: |
Helen, why is NAFAE important to FE and HE Art providers?
NAFAE is the community that represents those that teach Fine Art. It is important because it offers us a way of expressing our views and having some impact on policy.
It offers the artists that teach a network which can be used for communicating:
- ideas and new attitudes
- our own journal
- problems and answers
- a sense of ill ease
- a sense of excitement
- events
- personal challenges
Most of all its about keeping in touch with what is going on elsewhere.
Helen, what important issues are facing Art over the next 5 years?
- Financial – the drive by Universities towards decision-making through accountancy. Fine Art is expensive
- Staffing- the importance of the visiting artist budget.
- The teaching contract.
- Space- the notion that students can make work in a bookable space.
- The student grant or lack of it.
- The relationship to the Gallery – what is the status and mission of gallery education in relation to FE and HE ? How can we support each other.
- Research and Practice in relation to teaching.
- Administrative burden impacting on teaching.
- A scarcity of philosophical dialogue and a flood of paperwork.
Helen, what else are you involved in?
- ATS Art Teacher Scheme Steering Group that supports educationalists revisiting artistic practice through Masters study and short courses. )
- Goldsmiths and Northumbria receive TDA funding. ATS is supported by ACE and NSEAD.
- Programme Group and Board Member Waygood Gallery and studios
- Educational Strategy research for Waygood Gallery.
- Gallery Director of New Gallery North a new School Gallery at Northumbria.
- Various External Examiner-presently Goldsmiths MA Fine Art& Ed and Chelsea BA Hons Fine Art.
- My own practice as a painter.