Editorial
ACUADS CONFERENCE 2012: REGION AND ISOLATION: THE CHANGING FUNCTION OF ART & DESIGN EDUCATION WITHIN DIASPORIC CULTURES AND BORDERLESS COMMUNITIES
Central Institute of Technology, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University
3 – 5 October 2012
ISBN: 978-0-9758360-8-8
It is with great pleasure that we present the collected papers of the 2012 Australian Council of University Art and Design Schools conference. The 2012 conference was jointly hosted by Central Institute of Technology, Curtin University and Edith Cowan University.
The title of the 2012 conference was ‘Region and Isolation’, suggesting a theme that we feel is particularly pertinent to current trends in art and design education. For some, the Twenty-first century is proving to be an era of unprecedented freedom; travel and migration have never been easier. The tribulations of geographic distance are, to a great extent, a thing of the past; increasingly sophisticated technologies enable us to stay in touch, even when far from home. And yet, for many others, remoteness and isolation remain a daily reality. The vexed issue of Globalisation presents both challenges and opportunities for art and design educators. While isolation, geographic or otherwise, may often be seen as detrimental to art education and culture, it is important to recognise the possibilities inherent in regionalism: seclusion has the capability of fostering unique and vital cultural identities. Conversely, it is the job of art and design education to ensure that creative cultures are identified, maintained and encouraged in the face of Diaspora and migration. Whether located within a borderless, globally integrated community or operating out of a more remote region, educators must identify strategies for turning their situation into a virtue.
Many of this year’s papers examine the ways in which tertiary art and design schools are changing or need to change in order to deal with the global realities of the Twenty-first century. Over the course of our three-day program we were also delighted to feature papers that considered educational strategies and techniques in a broader context, as well as presenting a wide range of research reflecting the diverse interests and practices of our sector.
Clive Barstow, Edith Cowan University
Digby de Bruin, Central Institute of Technology
Julian Goddard, Curtin University
ACUADS offers participation to the wider art and design sector by co-ordinating a theme-based annual conference (with rotating locations throughout Australia) as part of its professional development responsibility.
Refereed Papers
The refereeing process complied with accepted guidelines. Referees were chosen from the academic community and were independent experts in their chosen field. Each full and completed paper was submitted for refereeing as a ‘blind’ (unidentifiable) copy to two referees. Written comments were received from each referee for each paper. Papers requiring revision were returned to authors for the required changes. At no time were referees informed of the identities of the authors whose papers they were assessing, nor were authors informed of the referees’ identities. The Keynote papers were not subject to this process. The conference papers have been edited for consistency in presentation, and an effort has been made to ensure that all papers are free from errors.
April 11, 2013