Photo by Leigh D Stark
To see other images of our MASSIVE RALLY by Leigh go to http://www.leighlo.com/spore/index.php?gallery=./B-Paparazzi
RE: NAS Merger with COFA (UNSW)
Just when we had become used to the utter distain with which FONAS is treated by the NSW State Government (all the emails from FONAS to Ms Tebbutt’s, Minister for Education and Training, office being blocked is just one example) when yesterday’s article in The Australian newspaper proved that we can still be shocked by their tactics. What followed was 24 hours of non-stop phone calls from concerned supporters until we were able to get verbal confirmation from the minister’s spokesperson who claimed that they had been ‘misquoted’.
The article concerned, written by Imre Salusinszky, quotes Ms Tebbutts spokesperson confirming that the merger between NAS and COFA will proceed and that the minister would ‘try and preserve the school’s artistic philosophy’. Follow the link Schools of art in unlikely merger
The FONAS committee immediately ratified that such a hostile take-over of the National Art School through dubious and questionable processes will not deter us from continuing our campaign to save the school.
Even though there appears to me no substance to the quote, legitimate questions demand to be answered regarding this merger. For example, the proposal that COFA originally submitted never fulfilled the criteria set out in the original tender applications procedure. If the criteria has changed then surely other universities should be given another opportunity to apply, otherwise it is COFA rather than Department of Education and Training (DET) who is setting the agenda, with DET adopting the role of mere facilitator.
We would also like to know how Ian Howard (COFA Dean) felt able to inform the staff only last week (at the COFA Art Teachers Drawing Conference) that whilst remaining ‘circumspect’, an announcement regarding the expansion of COFA to include the National Art School in the creation of a very “exciting new art school” was imminent? He also stated that the negotiations with DET were ‘going very well indeed’.
So where to from here? Certainly we are full-steam ahead in our support for Angus Wood who will stand as an Independent candidate against Carmel Tebbutt in the State election in March 2007.
We will continue using every means available to ensure that the correct decision is made – and we need your help to do this.
We would ask each and every one of you to do what you can to save the National Art School. Please write to newspapers, phone radio stations, talk to anybody and everybody who might be able to influence the decision. Forward this email onto all your contacts. Every little bit helps.
The unexpected support that the Liberal Party has extended reflects poorly on the Iemma Labour Government and the way it views art and art education in this State. Echoing the voices of over 400 supporters outside Parliament House on 20 September 06, ‘Shame Iemma shame’.
We will keep you updated on news as it happens and would ask you all to do the same. Let us know what you are doing. Let us know what you would like us to do.
In the meantime, hold firm and do not be dissuaded from our chartered course. It is the duty of governments, as the elected servants of its people, to listen to its electorate. Democracy must prevail.
Kind regards,
Bernadette Mansfield
FONAS President
John McDonald writes on the future of the NAS in his article in last Saturday’s Spectrum, 1 October 2006
As the future of the National Art School hangs in the balance, the importance of core skills is shown in an impressive show.
Follow the link below:
http://www.smh.com.au/news/arts/to-draw-or-not-to-draw-that-is-the-question/2006/09/28/1159337269907.html
Please visit the FONAS blog site for information and discussion:
http://nasindependence.blog.com
Open letter to the Hon. John Howard MP
On Saturday 26th August 2006 FONAS published a full page open letter to the Hon. John Howard MP requesting that the National Art School be recognised for its past and present contribution to the cultural life of Australia and grant it federal status and federal funding as a member of the Australian Roundtable for Arts Training Excellence.
We thank all the many supporters who have signed petitions in support of the independence of the National Art School. All original petitions will be tabled at State Parliament by Clover Moore over the coming weeks.
Please continue to be active in supporting the independence of the Naitonal Art School. A campaign such as this could not be successful without individual support at all levels.
To assist with our campaign please phone our office on 9339 8635 and we will forward you petitions to be signed by friends and like minded supporters.
Alternatively please write to your local Member of Parliment with your concerns or to the following:
Minister for Education and Training
Level 33
Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney NSW 2000
minister@det.nsw.edu.au
Michael Coutts-Trotter
Director General Department of Education and Training
GPO Box 33
Sydney
NSW 2001
director.general@det.nsw.edu.au
Clover Moore
Member of Bligh and Lord Mayor of Sydney
GPO Box 1591
Sydney 2001
cmoore@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
Peter Garrett
Member of Kingsford Smith
Parliamentary Secretary for Reconciliation and the Arts
PO Box 249
Maroubra
NSW 2035
peter.garrett.mp@aph.gov.au
Tanya Plibersek, MP
Federal Member for Sydney
422 Crown Street
Surry Hills
NSW 2010
tanya@tanyaplibersek.com
The Hon. Nathan Rees
L40 Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place
Sydney
NSW 2000
thepremier@www.nsw.gov.au
Peter Debnam MP
Suite 102,
332-342 Oxford Street
Bondi Junction
NSW 2022
peter.debnam@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Jillian Skinner MP
Shadow Minister for the Arts
3/40 Yeo Street
Neutral Bay
NSW 2089
northshore@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Brad Hazzard MP
Shadow Minister for Education
Shop 3, 637-641 Pittwater Road
Dee Why
NSW 2099
Brad.hazzard@parliment.nsw.gov.au
The Hon. John Arthur Watkins
Deputy Premier
Ground Floor 123 Blaxland Road
Ryde
NSW 2112
ryde@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Lee Rhiannon
The Greens
Parliament House
Macquarie Street
Sydney
NSW 2000
Lee.Rhiannon@parliament.nsw.gov.au
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