The renowned Textile Conservation Centre at the Winchester School of Art is under threat of closure. Originally located at Hampton Court, the centre is important internationally as a leading body into research into historic textiles; it also provides training for potential conservators. This would be a huge loss were it to close. Please sign the petition to keep it open.
The School of Art is part of the University of Southampton. This university has found the money to rebuild the Mountbatten building, revise its logo and send the vice-chancellor on global temperature increasing flights on private jets across the Atlantic. Whereas the former is necessary to the continued success of the university, the other two certainly aren’t. The proposed closure of the centre seems to be one of many closures and job cuts happening in other academic areas of the university, which is potentially very worrying, especially for a university that prides itself on being part of the Russel Group and in the top 10 research universities in the country.
Yes, I am angry, very angry.
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The textile conservation centre is a leading body in historic textile research and conservation. They have assisted many museums, including the University of Cambridge Museum of Arch and Anth, with specialist professional advice. It would be a loss to many if the centre were to be closed.
[...] the On Boundaries blog The renowned Textile Conservation Centre at the Winchester School of Art is under threat of [...]
My daughter had set her heart on going to Winchester, now it’s under threat, and also the same course at the Royal Acadamy is not going to run. What is going on!!
Hello Georgina,
I feel for your daughter. The bottom line at Southampton seems to be money. All schools are supposed to not make a lost at least, but the School of Art has a huge deficit. This does not make it right that the TCC should close. Please sign the petition if you haven’t already – it’s our best chance of keeping it open.
Anita,
I’m sorry, I didn’t reply to your comment. I agree entirely!
[...] April 19, 2008 Posted by gesta in Academia, Uncategorized. trackback I blogged about the closure of the Textile Conservation Centre in November. The deadline for signing the petition is fast approaching, so please, if you [...]
[...] the government July 16, 2008 Posted by gesta in Academia, Debate. trackback I have blogged previously about the imminent closure by the University of Southampton of the Textile Conservation Centre at [...]