Arts students are benefiting from expert advice
Advisory boards feature industry figures from a range of art and creative disciplines
The Ruskin Gallery, part of ARU's Cambridge School of Art
Two advisory boards have been established to strengthen industry connections and ensure arts students at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) continue to be fully prepared to thrive in their future careers.
Separate advisory boards have been set up for ARU’s Cambridge School of Art and the Cambridge School of Creative Industries, under the leadership of Dr Idrees Rasouli, Associate Professor of Design and Urban Innovation at ARU.
The boards have been set up to help steer the Schools’ strategic direction, contribute to research, and strengthen networks with local and national partners.
ARU boasts alumni across a range of artistic disciplines, including cartoonist and graphic artist Ronald Searle, ceramic artist Professor Dame Magdalene Odundo, Spitting Image creators Roger Law and Peter Fluck, painter and illustrator Edward Bawden, and Syd Barrett and Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd.
Founded in 1858, the Cambridge School of Art continues to build on its proud heritage. Its new advisory board consists of 15 professionals and industry experts, many of whom are involved in arts organisations or arts provision across the region.
A similar board is working with the Cambridge School of Creative Industries, which provides courses such as Film and Television Production, Music, Computer Games Design and Creative Writing.
Both boards meet three times a year and report annually on their progress and recommendations.
“These advisory boards help to strengthen the arts and culture ecosystem across our region. By connecting education, industry and communities, we can help ensure that creativity continues to thrive, not only enriching cultural life but also benefiting economic growth and social wellbeing.
“Together, we’re building a stronger presence for creativity and for the talented people who make it happen.”
Dr Idrees Rasouli, Associate Professor of Design and Urban Innovation at ARU
“The ongoing advice of so many of the region’s industry leaders and experts is invaluable.
“We are dedicated to ensuring our courses not only inspire our students to reach their creative potential, but also ensure what they are learning is exactly what their respective industries require when they graduate. These advisory boards help us do just that.”
Professor Catherine Lee, Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Humanities, Education and Social Sciences at ARUThe new advisory boards follow the foundation of a Business Advisory Board last year, which was established to ensure ARU’s business courses remain closely aligned with industry needs.