All is not lost for the arts in Townsville
A RESURGENCE in creative arts study opportunities is bubbling in Townsville, after concerned artists called out the lack of art degrees available to students in the North.
Advocacy group Creative Townsville Collective held a public forum last week to discuss the lack of arts education opportunities available in Townsville, with Pimlico’s TAFE campus not offering an on- campus Bachelor of Visual Arts option in 2019.
TAFE Queensland North Region acting general manager Ian Smythe confirmed the on- campus delivery option would expire at the end of the year, but it may not be the end for the degree in the region.
“We are currently negotiating to establish a new Pimlico campus visual arts university program,” he said.
“TAFE Queensland North Region acknowledges the importance of providing our visual arts graduates with an oncampus degree pathway program and we want to encourage existing and prospective students to stay in the region and continue their studies in a learning environment that they are confident and comfortable in.”
Mr Smythe said it was TAFE’s aim to have an oncampus visual arts university pathway option available by semester one 2020.
“We will continue to ensure regional artists are well placed to pursue all the opportunities that are available to artists living in larger cities,” he said.
“We will continue to offer articulation and pathways support to our 2018 Advanced Diploma and Diploma of Visual Arts graduates if they are interested in pursuing university studies next year.”
CQUniversity Associate Lecturer in Creative Arts Rob Doran said while visual arts was not offered on- campus in Townsville, the university had already commenced plans to expand the region’s arts study opportunities.
“This year we began our Bachelor of Creative Arts but with majors in dance and drama,” he said. “We’re looking at increasing our enrolments over the next couple of years, then hopefully down the track we’ll have the opportunity to bring other art forms on- campus as we grow. I can’t offer a date but that’s certainly the intention as we build our footprint in Townsville.”
Mr Doran said the efforts of the collective to draw attention to arts in Townsville was necessary to keep the scene alive.
“There’s a big commitment by the university as far as investing in Townsville in the arts, and there’s a really healthy arts community in this town,” he said. “I think the point the ( Collective) were making was really a valid point, and that’s about raising the profile and value of arts in the community.”