DIVISION OF EDUCATION, ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
ART, ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN incorporating
LOUIS LAYBOURNE SMITH SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN SCHOOL OF ART
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Brief notes and actions from the meeting
13 October 2009 from 4:00pm in K3-25, Kaurna Building, City West campus
1. Present
Mr Nick Tridente (Chair)
Mr Gavin Close (left 5:30)
Prof Annabelle Pegrum
Prof Mads Gaardboe
Mr Adrian Evans
Mr Christopher Menz
Mr Chris Ware
In attendance
Assoc Prof John Barbour
Ms Mary Knights (for item 5.1)
Mr Keith Giles (for item 5.1)
Ms Jane Andrew (for item 5.5)
Mr Julian Eitzen (Executive Officer)
2. Apologies
Mr Matt Remphrey
Mr Anton Hart
Prof Pal Ahluwalia
Mr Simon Dodd
Ms Anne Robinson
3. Minutes
The minutes of the previous meeting on 21 May 2009 were approved.
4. Business arising
4.1 Advisory Committee Chair
Mads advised the Committee that Nick would continue as Chair for one more year. He
encouraged the members to consider nominating for the position at the conclusion of the
term.
4.2 End of year exhibition prize
Mads indicated that the concept of a ‘best of’ piece from the end of year exhibitions to be
purchased by the University was still to be considered by the Vice Chancellor. John
advised that a VIP event for the presentation of major prizes and awards was scheduled
for December 4 – members will receive invitations in due course. Preparation for the
various graduating student shows were progressing well with strong input from the
students. The shows would mark the auspicious occasion of the new School’s first year of
operation. It was noted however that the higher levels of sponsorship for the events had
not been obtained.
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5. New business
5.1 Gallery update
Mary tabled a series of SASA Gallery catalogues including:
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The Dream Republic
strangely familiar [working title]
YEARS without MAGIC
The Green Candle
Dark Dreams + Fluorescent Flesh
TRACES Drawing/Environment/Sustainability
Mary also tabled “SASA Gallery: Cost Benefit Analysis – 5 page summary” and the full
report (Annex 1). She distributed an invitation to the current exhibition, “The Ends of the
Earth”, to which she welcomed the members to attend at the conclusion of the Committee
meeting to hear a brief floor talk by the artist Linda Dement.
Keith gave a powerpoint presentation of exhibition images while Mary outlined key aspects
of the Gallery. She noted that the focus of exhibitions was on the ‘research edge’. The
exhibitions provided opportunity for emerging and experienced artists to collaborate and
work across the range of task from exhibiting to curator and catalogue essay. Mary
indicated that a number of exciting new exhibition spaces had been identified across the
School’s two buildings which would open up opportunities for diversity in the nature of
exhibitions. She advised that a group of 20 academics and postgraduate students had
been listed with the 2010 Adelaide Festival of Arts to create an instillation exhibition on
campus during the festival.
Annabelle noted that the national Architecture student conference would be held in
Adelaide in 2010 which might provide an opportunity for the Gallery. She also advised
that the Gallery of Australian Design had been established in Canberra’s Parliamentary
Zone, and that it included dedicated space for mobile exhibitions. Annabelle indicated that
she was most willing to cooperate with the School if interested in either of the ventures.
ACTION:
Mary to follow-up with Annabelle about exhibition opportunities.
5.2 Head of School report
Mads reported that the School had continued to consolidate its operations but that there
had not been significant developments since the May meeting. The consolidation process
had been facilitated by two School retreats, in March and September, where the overall
focus was on identifying opportunities for the School profile through the STEP2010
process and in alignment with the University strategy. The September retreat had a more
operational focus and considered IT issues and the possibility of moving to leased laptops
for student use. The School will rationalize courses and programs and move out of non
viable programs, and follow an agenda of expansion in length rather than width. Program
development in the School will follow the Bologna model (3 + 2) or variations so that all
undergraduate programs have a transition to master option. It is anticipated that a greater
level of course and studio sharing, especially in postgraduate, will be achieved through
these arrangements.
Annabelle advised that the University of Canberra had introduced the Bologna model
across its Architecture, Industrial Design, Landscape Architecture, and Interior
Architecture programs with good results and efficiency gains. She indicated they were
considering the introduction of master with honours option and that the Bologna model
was well supported by industry.
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Gavin noted that industry demands in visual communication were increasingly including
significant web and online components, and was concerned that Visual Communication
might not be keeping pace with these developments. He indicated that it was unfortunate
that he would have to leave the meeting before Jane’s presentation but acknowledged that
they were scheduled to meet to discuss the matter.
Mads welcomed the members views and encouraged them to contact him as matters
arose. He noted that 2010 and 11 would involve the implementation of the current
program development ideas in readiness for the deregulated market in 2012.
There had been a slight growth in overall student numbers with Architecture and Interior
Architecture stable, the decline in Industrial Design halted, and a slight increase in Visual
Communication and Art.
The School was in the fortunate position to make new academic appointments:
 Dr Angelique Edmonds
 Dr Chris Brisben, both in Architecture
And to be advertised:
 Architecture – one Senior Lecturer/Assoc Prof
 Interior Architecture – two Lecturer positions
 Visual Communication – one Lecturer and one Senior Lecturer
 Zero Waste SA Centre – one full Professor
And noted that Associate Professor Jo Cys had been appointed Acting Dean: Research
and Research Education in the Division Office.
An additional appointment will come because the School will house a business adviser for
the national initiative: Creative Industries Innovation Cluster.
The School has actively participated in providing advice for the new research funding
model, Excellence in Research for Australia (ERA), mainly through ADBED and AQUADS,
and was confident that the metrics of the new model would open opportunities for inclusion
of creative research outputs from the School’s various discipline areas.
The School was operating in surplus, largely from strong enrolments and increased
international students, though research income was slightly down. Investment in
equipment would be a priority, especially for art workshops and studios.
The School has been a partner with the Thinkers in Residence program with visiting
architect Professor Laura Lee from Carnegie Mellon University, U.S.A. Significant awards
have been won:
 Mt Franklin project – Best Small Building, AIA ACT Chapter Awards.
 Mt Franklin project – Colorbond Award, AIA ACT Chapter Awards.
 Mimili project – Chancellor’s Award for Community Engagement
 Toby Richardson – Helpmann Academy Grant
 Olga Sankey – works acquired by the Art Gallery of SA
 Greg Donovan – UniSA Excellence in Teaching Award
 Olga Sankey/Steve Carson – UniSA Excellence in Teaching Award
5.3 STEP 2010 projects
Mads advised that the STEP2010 projects evolved out of the University’s updated
teaching and learning framework with the projects intended to revitalise courses and
programs to maximize student engagement through experiential learning. The School had
claimed around $536K to implement the projects which included:
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The Mobile Architecture and Design Spaces – including a truck for transport of the
three in house designed and constructed M.A.D.S units.
The roll-out of career management skills across the programs
A comprehensive course mapping exercise to identify efficiency gains and multiple
use courses
The strengthening of Indigenous Australian content and Indigenous Australian Art
course/s
The Committee applauded the initiatives. Annabelle recommended that for the career
management components there should be close correlation with industry accreditation
requirements, and noted that emphasis needed to be given to the maintenance of
students’ log of work.
Minor capital work on the advice of the architect John Wardell to reconfigure the Kaurna
Building to improve its functionality for accommodation of a single school is under
development.
5.4 School strategic plan
This item was deemed to have been adequately covered in the preceding discussions.
Mads encouraged the members to contact him with any aspect of the plan they would like
to discuss.
5.5 Professional Practice and Research Studio
Jane provided a powerpoint presentation of the conceptualisation of the Professional
Practice and Research Studio (Annex 2). She emphasised that the descriptor
‘consultancy’ had been avoided and that the Studio did not intend to go in competition with
industry. Rather, it should feature research opportunities, cross discipline collaboration,
and a focus on creating mutually beneficial outcomes for the Studio and industry partners.
The Committee endorsed the concept and the members offered several suggestions for
the direction of the Studio’s development. Annabelle in particular made suggestions for
the systematization of the concept.
ACTION:
Jane to follow-up with Annabelle to further refine the Studio concept.
5.6 Collaborative intervention for the Kaurna Building entry foyer
John advised the Committee that the School was very interested in developing public art
projects, in the first instance to enliven the Kaurna Building’s main entry foyer. He
encouraged the members to contact him with any suggestions.
6. Any other business
Nick suggested that the Committee meetings be extended in time to three hours (including
an interval for drinks and food) and that three meetings be scheduled annually.
The meeting closed at 6:35pm, and the Committee adjourned to the SASA Gallery.
7. Next meeting
The next meeting is in 2010 – to be advised.
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