Norwich University College of the Arts

Norwich University College of the Arts
Established	1845
Type	Public
Principal	Professor John Last
Location	Norwich, Norfolk, UK
Nickname	NUCA
Website	www.nuca.ac.uk

Norwich University College of the Arts (commonly NUCA) is a higher education specialist art, design and media university college, based on a single site in the centre of Norwich, in the United Kingdom.

History

The history of Norwich University College of the Arts dates back to 1845 when the Norwich School of Design was established to provide designers for local industries. Its founders were the artists and followers of the 'Norwich School of Painters', the only provincial British group to establish an international reputation for landscape painting.

Degree-level provision has been offered since 1965, when it was approved to offer the Diploma in Art and Design, validated by the National Council for Diplomas in Art and Design (NCDAD). After 1965 the School of Art made its own mark on the national art and design scene when twin strengths in Painting and Graphic Design emerged under a group of exceptional practitioners and teachers.

From 1975, after NCDAD's merger with the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA), the School offered its first BA Honours degree courses in Fine Art and Graphic Design, validated by CNAA.

In 1989 the School merged with Great Yarmouth College of Art to form the Norfolk Institute of Art and Design (NIAD). In 1991 Norfolk Institute of Art and Design become an Associate College of the new Anglia Polytechnic with the polytechnic assuming validation responsibilities from CNAA from September 1992. This agreement extended to postgraduate provision, with the first MA course being introduced in 1993 (MA Fine Art) and the first research degree student being registered in 1995.

In 1994 NIAD was incorporated as a Higher Education Institution (HEI), re-named as Norwich School of Art and Design and re-launched with a new corporate identity.

In November 2007 the School was granted the power to award its own degrees up to Masters level and was re-named Norwich University College of the Arts.

Current courses include

Undergraduate courses Animation Architecture Design for Publishing Fashion Film and Moving Image Production Fine Art Games Art and Design Graphic Communication Graphic Design Illustration Photography Surface Design Textiles Visual Studies Postgraduate courses MA Communication Design MA Curation MA Fashion MA Fine Art MA Moving Image and Sound MA Textile Design MPhil/PhDs Research NUCA entered the national Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 1996 with funding awarded to develop capability. In the 2008 RAE submission 35% of NUCA’s submitted research was confirmed to be ‘world leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ and the Times Higher RAE ‘league table’ placed NUCA joint 34th out of 72 HEIs. The RAE report complimented NUCA’s ‘good regional context for research’ and ‘the significant impact of international initiatives’. Additionally it noted NUCA's national contribution evidenced by ‘the programming of major festivals and exhibitions’, ‘addresses to, and chairs of, major conferences’ and ‘influence evidenced through Editorial Board and committee membership’. Staff research groups are focused in five areas: Animation and Sound Art and Design Curation Art and Design Interpretation and Curation Fine Art Graphic Design Location The University College is located in Norwich city centre. Francis House which is located on Redwell Street is the main reception for NUCA, while the academic buildings are a 2 minute walk from this point which offering a large Mac and Windows suite, A1 style printing rooms, animation studios, professional sound booths and academic studios. There are 2 areas of accommodation for first year students: the Beechcroft complex off Sprowston Road; and Harvard Court. University College status In August 2008 Norwich School of Art and Design became Norwich University College of the Arts. This is by Order of the Privy Council, to reflect the granting of Taught Degree Awarding powers in November 2007. All students starting after September 2008 receive degrees from Norwich University College of the Arts.[1] People Notable alumni Michael Andrews, artist Glenn Brown, Fine Artist, Turner Prize nominee Keith Chapman, creator of Bob the Builder Neil Innes, writer for Monty Python, and member of The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band Leafcutter John, jazz musician for Mercury Prize nominees Polar Bear Charles Mayes Wigg, landscape artist Bernard Meadows, Modernist Sculptor Alfred Munnings, artist and president of the Royal Academy Colin Self, pop artist Tim Stoner, winner of Beck's Futures Prize Horace Tuck, landscape artist Charles John Brooke, architect, Philadelphia, PA & Merchantville, NJ Headmasters William Stewart (1845–48) George Stewart (1848–51) John Wilkin Heaviside (1851–54) Claude Lorraine Richard Wilson Nursey (1854–59) Robert Cochrane (1859–84) Joseph Woodhouse Stubbs (1884–87) Walter Scott (1888–1919) Charles Hobbis (1919–46) Noel Spencer (1946–63) Principals Noel Spencer (1963–64) John Brinkley (1964–68) Robert Fox (1968–72) Bill English (1972–88) Professor Bruce Black (1988–2001) Susan Tuckett (2001–08) Professor John Last (since January 2009) External links Norwich University College of the Arts website Notes and references ^ NSAD Website (May 22, 2008), University College, new name from 1st August, NSAD Website, http://www.nsad.ac.uk/news/news_article.php?id=138, retrieved 2008-07-12