Hackney college closes art courses as ‘unfair’ further education cuts kick in

Anti-cuts: UCU members protest outside Hackney Community College on Falkirk Street

Staff and students from a Hackney college are to march on Thursday (June 18) in protest over the axeing of three arts courses.

Hackney Community College (HCC) on Falkirk Street has confirmed that three Art and Design courses will be scrapped from September 2015: the BTEC levels 2 and 3 and the Foundation Diploma.

Fashion, digital media, performing arts and adult part-time arts courses will not be affected.

The college’s Principal Ian Ashman said that the college had to reduce its costs by £2.9m in the coming year because of the “unfair and disproportionate” funding cuts from central government’s year-on-year reductions to public sector resources.

Members of the University and College Union (UCU) lobbied parliament yesterday (June 16), following the announcement that funding for adult learning in England is to be cut by up to 24 per cent in 2015/16.

Arts first to go

Artists and arts organisations have rallied around the Shoreditch college following the announcement of the closures.

Hackney organisation Arts Emergency, which pairs children with artistic and academic mentors, criticised the cuts to further education. Co-founder Neil Griffiths said: “Arts and humanities are always first to go, and it it always the poorest children that will suffer.”

“We will be offering any eligible students from Hackney Community College an Arts Emergency mentor.”

Artist Bob and Roberta Smith, founder of the Art Party movement and Associate Professor at London Metropolitan University, is also lending support to the college.

He told the Hackney Citizen: “I think it’s wrong to cut courses in the arts, especially courses which offer entry to professions.

“The structure for engaging new students in the arts is being dismantled and that structure often attracts more working class people. It’s wrong, prejudicial and bad for the arts to only seek to engage middle class kids.”

Mr Ashman reassured students that HCC was in communication with other local colleges to secure a “progression route” available to all students.

A spokesperson for the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills said: “It is right that as the nation tightens its belt on public spending, the further education sector plays its part in ensuring value for money for taxpayers by finding savings.”

If you are a HCC student affected by the closures you can apply for an Arts Emergency mentor. To find out more click here.