DJCAD Degree Show 2013

Last night I enjoyed attending the Preview of the Degree Show at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD). This year, the exhibition of the art works created by its talented 290 final-year students coincides with the celebration of The college's 125th anniversary. I think this year's show is exceptional and I recommend that you catch it while you can over the next week.

The exhibition is be open to the public from Saturday, 18th May until Sunday, May 26th. Admission is free and the exhibition is open from 10am until 8pm (Monday – Friday) and 10am to 4pm (Saturday – Sunday).

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has been rated as the top art school in Scotland and in the top four in the UK according to the latest Research Assessment Exercise (RAE).

Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design

University of Dundee 13 Perth Road Dundee DD1 4HT

www.dundee.ac.uk/djcad/degreeshow/

Morgan Academy Participation in Tablet Computer Piloting

On Friday 8 June, with my colleague Councillor Georgia Cruickshank, I visited Morgan Academy. We met the Head Teacher, Stephen Shaw and Senior Computer Science Teacher James Harris for a briefing on the school's participation in the national pilot programme using tablet computers and wi-fi access.
I think this development has the potential to create more opportunities for pupils to engage with information and communications technologies and gain expertise in using these responsibly and creatively. This latter point is important in a city where we are have nationally recognised courses in time based art and digital animation at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Computer Games Technology at Abertay University which underpin the celebrated cluster of computer gaming and animation companies in Dundee.


We were reassured that the school, in conjunction with the Council's IT service, is making sure that the new network will be secure and safe for pupils before the system goes 'live'. 
I hope it won't be long before we are extending the pilot to all our secondary schools in the city, including Grove Academy in my own ward.

Plea for No Tax on Art and Local Events in Dundee

The prospect of hefty fees to obtain a Public Entertainment Licence for small exhibitions and events—including those to be held free of charge—has been causing concern amongst artists, performers and owners of small venues and organisers of community events.
In Dundee where we have many arts based groups flourishing around Dundee Contemporary Arts and the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art they have already met to try to stave off the imposition of unreasonable charges. 
In Broughty Ferry, there are many free arts and community events including the switching on of the Christmas Lights, Gala Week and the Annual Broughty Art Society Show which potentially might be affected.
At the Licensing Committee on Thursday morning 29 March I made the following contribution to the debate:
"Members I don't want a tax on art and local entertainment in Dundee . I am pleased that common sense has prevailed and the Agenda Note for the Licensing Committee this morning takes us on a more cautious route. I think is would be a sensible decision to defer imposing any charges while the Council conducts a consultation. I expect that our lengthy consultation period would allow fears and concerns about any extension of charges to be fully explored before we are asked to decide which if any events might fall within these new regulations next year. In a city that will soon have the much heralded V and A museum on our waterfront, from which we hope our arts based sector will grow, it is important not to impose red tape, regulations and ridiculous charges that would unnecessarily stifle the very creative impulse that we are trying to foster in Dundee. Additionally I don't want to discourage community groups from organising events in their neighbourhoods for their members and supporters. We must not do anything that would discourage their valued contribution to the life of our city."


The Committee decided to defer imposing any new charges while Council staff undertake a thorough consultation.


Notes
Until recently, it was up to each local authority which public entertainment events they chose to licence. However, changes brought in by the Criminal Justice and Licensing (S) Act 2010 now require them to look at Public Entertainment Licences for free events.
One of the motivations behind this change was impromptu raves, that would spring up in some public parks – but as no entry fee was charged, the Local Authority could not effectively regulate the events through their licensing system. 
The range of licensable activities is still left to each individual Local Authority to determine according to local need. Please note that the requirement is for the place (venue etc), not the person (organisers), to be licensed.
This change is due to come into effect on 1 April 2012. Some local authorities have already considered the implications of charging licensing fees for free events and have exempted certain ones. Others, like Dundee have decided that this is a change that attracts a standard 9 month consultation period.