Society faces possibly insurmountable environmental and social challenges. The COVID 19 pandemic demonstrated how at times of crisis politicians and the majority of the population looked to science and medical engineering for solutions. What role does art and design play in these challenges?

What are the intersections between the art and design disciplines, between other disciplines and what role does the digital play in these connections and disconnections?

Are we at a stage where art and design practice is simply repetition of what has already been put forward? 

How can art and design be applied critically?

Since 1992 Further and Higher Education Act art schools (as did polytechnics) have been integrated into the university sector. With the integration came benefits as well as all the pressures, not least the pressure of carving out an identity as an academic institution (or faculty if integrated into a local bigger university) as opposed to a purely practice-based institution. Art schools now had to demonstrate their academic credentials, be it in terms of research or teaching and learning agendas but also in terms of contributions to the economy and employment pathways. The stakes increased simply by now being in the same boat as the ‘big boys’ (so-called High Tariff Universities). One of the consequences was the introduction of a plethora of competing agendas that led to a growing disillusion with art education.

Join Uwe Derksen, Imogen Morizet, Dr. Lucy Lyons, Katarina Dimitrijevic and Phil Gomm in discussion.

Dr. Lucy Lyons

Lecturer in Drawing and in Contextual Studies at The Margate School, lead tutor for SSC Anatomy and Art, MBBS, UCL Medical School, visiting lecturer for BA Fine Art at Coventry University, MA Fine Art, Open College of the Arts, BA and MA, Illustration, Printing and Fine Art University of Brighton, BA Illustration and Photography University of Westminster. Member of the Medical Artists’ Association of Great Britain and of the Institute of Anatomical Science. 

Imogen Morizet

Chair of Trustees- Westgate Hall

Katarina Dimtrijevic

Interior architect, design activist, educator and researcher. Katarina is the principal member at KraalD social praxis, committed to promoting design as a vehicle for social transformation. Katarina's PhD research is funded by the AHRC Design Star CDT. 

Phil Gomm

Award-winning writer, director and producer of animation with ten years+ experience in the successful design, delivery and dissemination of creative education, and an expert project-manager of ambitious multi-participant collaborations.

Uwe Derksen

Over 25 years of experience in education, developing entrepreneurship programmes for students and adult learners in the community and the creative sector. Former member of the Board of Governors at the University for the Creative Arts and Assistant Director for Research of the University for the Creative Arts. Before then Assistant Director of the Centre for Enterprise and Business Development and Director of e-Novate Consultancy Ltd. Initiator and founding member, Director and Board Director of The Margate School.