A regional seminar funded by NAFAE on Widening Participation at the University of Salford, Irwell Valley Campus.

As Art and Design programmes in the city region of Salford and Manchester move towards a Regional Progression Network for learners this seminar seeks to debate the responsibilities and challenges that accompany widening participation beyond recruitment.

The main themes for the day are:

• Partnerships for Progression.
• Supporting Achievement.
• ‘Employability’ and ‘Enterprise’ culture.

The goal of the seminar is to interrogate assumptions about what is required from student success in our subject field. Invited speakers will highlight examples of best practice from Glasgow and Newcastle and Edinburgh and the event will present the new Regional Progression Network in Art and Design.

The Schools of Art and Design at Salford and Manchester Metropolitan are in the process of developing a Regional Progression Network in support of Widening Participation. In February 2007, the two HEIs hosted a one day seminar with colleagues in FE and 6th form to debate the framework and goals of a regional progression network. Our February 2008 seminar will revisit the progress of the Regional Progression Network and look at its aims within the framework of the tabled discussions.

The School of Art and Design within the Faculty of Arts, Media and Social Sciences at Salford, has a significant reputation for its outreach work and its widening participation initiatives. Over the years the department has built a positive and robust relationship with the local authority, with local schools and with feeder institutions. The proposal for a regional seminar in Salford was motivated by a branch of fresh and innovative partnerships with local schools and communities specifically aimed at increasing opportunities within the neighbourhoods of Salford. Work from the various projects will be on display and the day begins with a short presentation from the outreach team. The Salford experience has been to support learners in Schools whilst at the same time developing vocational experiences and training opportunities for graduates seeking to support themselves professionally.

The event is accompanied by an exhibition of projects taken from the Salford experience, working with partners Artists and Education. The exhibition will be a showcase of work with young people and their achievements and includes projects undertaken with schools, social enterprise groups and museums and galleries

Agenda

This seminar looks at the potential of the arts for inclusion; specifically the widening participation agenda and the successes, potential lessons and some of the issues that have been highlighted in the area of Visual and Fine Arts.

• 9:30: Arrival.
• 9:45: Welcome.
  • Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Media and Social Sciences.
• 10:00: The Salford Experience – ‘Artists and Education’.
• 10:20 – 10:45 Coffee.
• 10:45: Keynote 1: Eileen Reid (tbc).
  • Glasgow School of Art and Design.
• 11:20: Keynote 2: David Butler, LifeWorkArt.
  • Newcastle University
• 11:55: Keynote 3: Jan Tunnock.
  • Napier University.
• 12:30 – 13:30 Lunch.
• 13:30: Introduction to the afternoon sessions.
• 13:40:Workshops and Discussions.
  • Session A: Partnerships for Progress.
  • Session B: Supporting Achievement.
  • Session C: Employability and Enterprise.
• 15:00 - 15:20 Coffee
• 15:20: Feedback
• 16:00: Finish

Afternoon Discussions

Session A: Partnerships for Progress.

Suggested points for debate:

• Who does partnership mean and what does it require?
• Where are the areas of critical priority in funding?
• What are the main limitations of institutions affecting partnership?
• Priority areas for communication?
• What are the desirable outcomes of partnership?

Session B: Supporting Achievement.

Suggested points for debate:

• What achievement or talent do we want or recognise for entry?
• What values DO we promote in Creative practitioners?
• How do we encourage independence?
• How do we support achievement and the development of the individual?
• Are institutional expectations limiting?

Session C: Employability and Enterprise

Suggested points for debate:

• Defining ‘Employability’
• Meeting trainee needs/vocational relevancies – where are the issues?
• Recognising enterprise in learners?
• The socio-economic contribution of the Art and Design subject field?
• Liberating people’s options and choices?