SATELLITE

Satellite, A Fine Art Course Approach http://satellite-projects.blogspot.com/ please contact: Babette Pauthier Satellite Outreach Coordinator London Metropolitan University Department of Art Design and Media Central House , Room 309 59-63 Whitechapel High Street London E1 7PF 020 7320 1900 e.pauthier@londonmet.ac.uk Satellite is a project, which has been established to enable BA Fine Art students form London Metropolitan University to work as artists on live projects as volunteers, either in community settings or within a more traditional gallery environment, with dedicated support from the university and partner organisations. Satellite has established a strong outreach and external project programme throughout the last four years in order to support staff and student initiatives, which contribute directly to enriching the course curriculum and extending student experience. Satellite has established successful partnerships and networks at a local, national and international level. Students have been able to work with a wide range of artists and community groups. Although Satellite has only been established for four years, students have been able to work with a wide range of artists, community organisations and schools groups: So far we have undertaken projects with organisations as diverse as Tate Modern, The Women’s Library, The Tower of London, DITO – a disability training information and advocacy Organisation, The Museum of Installation, Hales Gallery, Whitechapel Gallery, The Royal London Hospital, Artism – an art project for autistic children’s, Poplar Day Centre for the elderly, and most importantly a number of local primary and secondary schools in Poplar, Newham and Tower Hamlets. Satellites role within the course Satellite grew out of the ethos of the course – that art is about communication and thinking creatively to enable audiences to access the world of ideas. For students to be able to employ their ideas and use the skills they have learned in a live project situation is tremendously exciting, and gives them a real world perspective on their chosen academic discipline. Reaching an audience and contributing towards cultural life is a priority of most artists’ practice. To experience this first hand whilst studying helps to equip students for their future career and helps them to develop strategies for their own work. Working on live projects builds an awareness of professional standards, and the roles an artist can play in variety of contexts. Opportunities for artists to work on community projects, or within education programmes based at galleries and schools have burgeoned in the last ten years. Within the market driven art press this activity tends to be marginalised but it is tremendously important for a number of reasons: 1. It brings art to new audiences 2. It engages new participants in the arts 3. It raises the standard and range of arts provision locally 4. It employs artists and gives them a valued role

Eric Whittington, On Satellite

The Satellite Project is as far as I know unique in London. Its overriding aim is to broaden the skills base of Fine Art students and to take them out of their comfort zone. All the signs are that the students are more than happy to do this; in fact they love it and support it. A creative writing course for visual artists, which helps students to develop their written communication skill, was heavily oversubscribed. The project encourages students to get out into the community and to volunteer on a wide range of projects. This helps to improve their employability, giving them the confidence to operate in a range of different environments. This in turn increases their range of career options upon completion of their studies. The Department are to be commended for his innovative initiative and set an excellent example for others. Eric Whittington Manager, Career Development and Employment Service Department of Student Services

SATELLITE

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Eric Whittington, On Satellite