World University of Design organizes seminar to brings into focus Higher Education in Art

NEW DELHI, JUNE 10: Great Minds in the world of Art came together to discuss the issues and challenges faced by Art Education in the face of an evolving eco-system that is majorly influenced by technology, society and demographics. World University of Design organized an intensive brainstorming seminar in collaboration with think-tank of eminent artists, art educators, curators and industry leaders in an effort to rethink the existing education framework and move towards a futuristic & contemporary understanding of the art education.

The seminar elaborated on the emerging education landscape especially in India in the coming years and how institutions are responding to these changes and challenges. The Seminar was organized by The School of Visual Arts, World University of Design on 7th June at the Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi. Some of the well-known and eminent personalities and artists who were a part of the seminar included Adwaita Charan Gadanayak (Dir Gen, NGMA), J Manu Parekh, Senior Artist, Suresh Goel (Dir General, EEMA and ex-DG, ICCR) and Sushma Bahl (former Head (Art & Culture), British Council) among others

Addressing the Seminar Dr Sanjay Gupta, Vice Chancellor, World University of Design said, “The world of Art is undergoing a rapid transformation. Even as contemporary art continues its movement in the conceptual and experiential direction; object-based, archival art continues to hold its ground. These are crucial times for art education too. The last document on art education in schools was made by CBSE a decade back and there has never been any study in the higher education domain. Almost all our visual art degree institutions continue to be modernist in their structures. Though some have opened up to material and conceptual explorations, they are not in a position to provide the pedagogical, structural and material infrastructure. Besides education fields like curatorial practices, and art management have emerged as key areas of cultural practice and can no longer be seen as auxiliary to the visual art industry (which has traditionally kept art making as its center).”

The programmes offered by WUD includes a first in India MVA in Curatorial Practices in Arts, a unique two year master’s programme that prepares students to expand the role of curators in connecting art, artists, and communities; engaging audiences more effectively by proposing alternative models of exhibition-making, institution-building & social justice through art.