21 October 2013

Congratulations to Amanda Burk, associate professor in the department of Fine and Performing Arts, who recently proposed and chaired a round-table panel discussion at the University Arts Association of Canada conference held at the Banff Centre for the Arts, October 17 -19, 2013.Titled The Current Climate of Studio Critiques, the roundtable asked the questions: what is the impact of the evolving climate of studio-based education on studio critiques and are there considerations that might lead to more effective critiques for our current generation of students? This round-table also explored and discussed strategies, formats and approaches to leading effective critiques. Panelists included Lucie Chan, assistant professor, Emily Carr University of Art and Design; Dr. Chris Jones, assistant dean of graduate studies at Emily Carr University of Art and Design; and Natalie Majaba Waldburger, assistant professor, Ontario College of Art and Design University. “Critiques have played an essential and longstanding role within studio-based education and pedagogy, but there is little written or discussed about this topic,” said Burk. “This round-table was a great opportunity to open up this discussion among studio arts practitioners from across the country”. The University Arts Association of Canada defines itself as an organization “concerned with providing a presence for university art and art history faculties within the network of academic disciplines in Canada; establishing a forum for exchange of ideas and scholarly work.”