Students, ex-staff, and artists express dismay
By Edd McCracken, Arts Correspondent
Glasgow School of Art is considering scrapping its famous ceramics degree course, the last of its kind in Scotland. The proposal has been met with anger and disbelief from pupils, staff, and former heads of the ceramics department.
Declining interest in ceramics
On February 7, staff and students within the department were informed of the recommendation to cease recruiting full-time and part-time undergraduates to the BA Ceramic Design programs. The school stated declining interest in the subject as the main reason for the proposal.
GSA has insisted that it is the BA Ceramic Design program that is under threat, not the entire ceramics department. However, students have pointed out that the degree makes up the bulk of the department, raising concerns about its future.
"I can't understand that," said Ester Svensson, the student representative for the ceramics department. "The ceramics department consists of undergraduates from the ceramic design degree - part-time and full-time. It's the only degree within the department. There's work being done with the council, and some research, but I don't see how they can carry on the department without the students."
Students also expressed dissatisfaction with the school's marketing efforts, claiming that prospective students were not being adequately informed about the course and the department during open days.
Possible ulterior motives
One former head of ceramics at GSA, Alex Leckie, accused the school of having ulterior motives for the proposed closure. He speculated that the valuable property occupied by the ceramics department may be a factor in the decision.
Leckie stated, "I'm a fairly cynical character, but why this particular department? And the one reason that jumps to mind is it's the one department that occupies a building on the corner of Buccleuch Street and Rose Street. Very valuable property. I know the school has plans to do stuff around the Mackintosh building. I see this as a sacrifice of a department to meet expenses elsewhere. And that's rather sad."
The impact of closure
GSA's ceramics department has played a significant role in the school's history since its founding in 1948. The ceramic mosaics adorning the Mackintosh building's entrance area showcase the department's artistic contributions.
If the ceramics course is removed from GSA, it will follow the footsteps of other art schools in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, and Dundee, which have already closed their ceramics programs. This would be a significant blow to the craft in Scotland, as it would leave no ceramics degree programs available to students.
According to Leckie, the closure would have far-reaching consequences. Galleries would feature fewer ceramic exhibitions, and national collections would lack contributions from the ceramic field. The overall lack of education and interest in ceramics among the general public would be deeply regrettable.
A plea for the arts
Renowned artist Alexander Moffat expressed his belief that the threat to the ceramics degree is indicative of a larger issue within all art schools. He stated that ceramics has always been undervalued and that art schools should be fighting to preserve and support such programs, rather than shutting them down for financial reasons.
Moffat stated, "In any university, if a subject, even an important subject, doesn't attract students, it doesn't make good business sense. This is the problem. We really should be approaching this from a completely different point of view. Should we have a ceramics department in Scotland? Obviously, we should. We should be fighting for it instead of shutting it down to save money."
School's response and decision
In response to the outcry, GSA issued a statement explaining the proposal. They acknowledged the high competition for places across other design programs but noted a lack of interest in ceramic design specifically. They stated that this posed a significant risk to the school's academic reputation and the maintenance of consistent student attainment across the design program.
The proposal is set to be discussed in academic committees, and the final decision will be made by the GSA's academic council in March.
Response from the public
The news of the proposed closure has elicited a strong response from the public. Many individuals have expressed their shock and disappointment at the potential loss of the ceramics degree course, highlighting the negative implications for Scotland's cultural heritage.
The outcry demonstrates the passion and support for the ceramics field and a shared belief in the importance of preserving Scotland's artistic traditions and education.
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