Plymouth College of Art Principal Announces Retirement

The Principal of Plymouth College of Art has announced her retirement.
Lynne Staley-Brookes has spent 37 years working full-time in education and nearly nine years at the College during a time of progression and success.
She said: “It is very easy for me to state that the most rewarding and enjoyable period of employment has been here in Plymouth, and leading this distinctive art College.
Lynne added: “The College has changed and developed since I took up my post in July 2001 – but its ethos and culture as an Art College has stood it in good stead for the past 154 years.
“Where numerous art colleges throughout the country have lost their specialist identity by merging with other educational establishments, Plymouth College of Art is an independent art College and is flourishing.”
A major player in the Arts nationally, regionally and locally, Lynne has raised the profile of the College. She is also Chair of the Association of Principals of Specialist Colleges of Art and Design, Executive Board Member of the UKs Arts and Design Institutions Association, the National Arts Learning Network, and Council for Higher Education in Art and Design, to name but a few.
As a thriving, bustling College with over 170 academics, most of whom are practising artists drawn from the widest range of disciplines - it’s not surprising that it is the only College in the South West to win a Silver Status Investors in People Award.
A report by IIP assessor Julie Luscombe stated: “There is excellent respect and trust for Managers, which has been earned through delivering what was promised, so managers practice what they preach.”
In addition to many awards won by staff and students over the years, the College received commendations in the most recent Ofsted report where e-learning and widening participation were highlighted as ‘outstanding’. Additionally, the report stated: “The strong culture for equality of opportunity and diversity is outstanding.”
During her years in the profession, Lynne is delighted to have worked with Sir John and Frances Sorrell and their foundation to develop a national model, the innovative National Saturday Arts Club, which she says “has given today’s youth a wider awareness of the fantastic opportunities in the art and design industries.”
The high quality and extensive specialist resources, along with expert staff, are what have made Plymouth College of Art successful and distinctive, according to Lynne:
“This, I believe, should be its vision and distinctiveness in the years to come – a strong Art College whose values and strengths are firmly rooted in the experience, success and creative energy and enjoyment of its students and staff.”
In the South West, 89,000 people work in the Creative Industries, a sector which is growing faster than the rest of the economy. In particular the region is recognised to have a vibrant arts scene and a thriving community of artists working in glass, metalwork, textiles, pottery, paint, woodwork, and jewellery.
Plymouth College of Art plays a fundamentally important role for delivering vocational practice-based provision and routes into these evolving industries.
In 2009, the College organised a highly successful “Making Futures” Conference, which discussed crafts in the context of global sustainability agendas.
Another feather in her cap was the introduction of Creative Business Services in 2008, proving that the most dynamic institutions have synergistic partnerships with businesses in their location.
2010 heralds the start of the first post-graduate programme, the MA in Entrepreneurship for Creative Practice, a new BA Honours in Underwater and Surface-Based Imaging and diverse courses including Spatial Design and Animation, 3D, Fashion, and Design for Games.
Part-time and evening courses are also provided for the wider community and the Saturday Arts Club is a long established provision giving young people age 9-17 access to the College’s facilities.
The latest development is the redesign of the Tavistock Place Building, with work commencing in March, which will change the look and landscape of the building on the important city centre site.
With successes to build upon and exciting times ahead for the College, the Corporation has immediately begun the process of recruiting a replacement Principal with the involvement of staff and students, and proposed interview dates are at the end of February 2010.
For more information about the new post, visit website www.plymouthart.ac.uk/vacancies or telephone 01752 203434.