The naming of the new arts' dean at Auckland University also heralds new mergers between established faculties and a new name -the Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries.
Image: Professor Sharman Pretty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music gets the top arts job at the University of Auckland.
The naming of the new arts' dean at Auckland University also heralds new mergers between established faculties and a new name -the Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries.
Image: Professor Sharman Pretty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music gets the top arts job at the University of Auckland.
In a move that the University hopes will strengthen its research and education profile among the rapidly growing international network of creative arts academic institutions, the new faculty is bringing together music, dance, fine arts, visual arts, architecture and planning in one unique faculty.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Auckland, Dr John Hood today announced the appointment of a new Dean to lead the establishment of the Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries.
Professor Sharman Pretty - Principal and Dean of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music at The University of Sydney - will take up the position in January 2004 for a five-year period.
"This is an important appointment, and I am delighted the University has been able to attract a person of such calibre to the role of Dean of Creative Arts and Industries. Professor Pretty's record of achievement in Australia is significant, and the University will undoubtedly benefit from her expertise, particularly during the early establishment of the faculty.
"Her appointment will bring the quality of leadership and education management needed for The University of Auckland to build a national centre of excellence in creative arts and design practice, education, innovation and research," said Dr Hood.
The newly appointed Dean is enthusiastic about the faculty's establishment and future.
"I am tremendously excited by the potential that this unique alignment of creative disciplines and genres present.
"The development of a responsive model of creative arts practice, education, research and innovation which connects to the cultural and environmental context of Auckland and the wider New Zealand community will position the new faculty as a benchmark amongst the rapidly growing network of higher education institutes of creative arts and industries worldwide.
"I am looking forward to the opportunity of engaging with the vibrant community of artists, scholars and students of the University who have developed and embraced this visionary concept," said Professor Pretty.
Professor Pretty has headed the Sydney Conservatorium of Music since 1995. The Conservatorium provides music education and training services across New South Wales. It has a tertiary faculty of approximately 560 undergraduate and postgraduate students, a selective secondary school of 165 students, and the Conservatorium Access Centre, which facilitates delivery of community outreach and professional development programmes to approximately 1000 people annually.
The most public of Professor Pretty's recent achievements has been the successful completion of the $A145 million redevelopment of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music facility, which was officially reopened in August 2001.
Previously, Professor Pretty was the General Manager of Youth Music Australia (Australian Youth Orchestra). During her tenure, she saved the organisation from the brink of financial collapse by presiding over a ten-fold increase in government support, and securing $3 million in corporate sponsorship.
Concurrently with these two roles, Professor Pretty was a Board member of the UNESCO affiliated Federation Internationale des Jeunesses Musicales (1991-1994); a founding Director on the Board of the Australian National Academy of Music (1995-1998); Member of the Music Council of Australia (1997 - 2002) and Chair of that Council (2000 - 2002).
The consolidation of the School of Architecture, the School of Creative and Performing Arts, the School of Fine Arts, the School of Music, and the Department of Planning will be completed by February 2004.
The Faculty of Creative Arts and Industries will have about 1500 EFTS (equivalent full-time students) based on 2002 enrolments. The Department of Property will move to the Faculty of Business and Economics where its identity, industry relationships and separate degree status will be maintained and promoted.
For further information contact:
Prof. Raewyn Dalziel
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic
The University of Auckland
Ph. 09 373 7599 ext. 87363