‘Shades of Noir’ (SoN) sits alongside and complements other University of The Arts London initiatives that aim to improve the student experience.

SoN is making progress in engaging a significant number of staff, students and alumni from across the University in curating an exhibition of the work of Black and Minority Ethnic UAL alumni, to be held at the Kings Cross Exhibition space in 2012/2013. A programme of activities and a range of resources is being developed around this event. This includes a series of talks, discussions and debates around Race and ethnicity in arts, design and communication, a catalogue and resources which aim to enhance pedagogy and curriculum and the programme will be supported by a website that will begin this academic year.

There are many areas you can support.

The 3 main strands of activity for this project are:

1) Catalogue

A online resource that specifically sets to identify ethnically diverse resources, artefacts and real people (candidates appropriate for collaboration, lectures and guest speakers) that supports an inclusive curriculum and student experience. This will be developed by self proposed staff, students and alumni to the university, whilst also being subject specific (including Cultural Studies, Fine Art, Textiles, Film, Graphics, Photography, and Media). The development and content of these documents will be cross referenced with course directors/leaders and library staff in all colleges in order to support the enhancement of resources for our students.

2) Debates

College wide debates (internal mainly) will build up to three Big Debates that involve external involvement both in the panel and audience. The topics for discussion are 'Race in Creative HE', 'Race in Creative Industry' and 'Race in Creative Practice'. Questions will be put forward by UAL staff, students, alumni, and it would also be appropriate to include a wider audience (particularly for the Big Debates) in posing questions via email and web based submission systems. These questions will be presented to the SoN Steering Group at UAL for selection.

3) Exhibition

An event that plays tribute to black alumni, offering visual creative role models representing excellence in creative education and practice for the diverse community of students, staff and alumni of the University of the Arts London, and the wider communities. It will be held at CSM 2012/2013; those that have already committed to the project include, Professor Ablade Glover NDD, ATD, Med, PhD, FRSA (Fine Artist), Professor Andrew Ramroop OBE (Master Tailor) and Ngozi Onwurah (Film Director).

Go live is September 2011, with internal college wide debates taking place from this time.

COME AND JOIN THE SHADES OF NOIR TEAM- TRANSFORMATION NEEDS YOUR CONTRIBUTION

For more information contact Aisha Richards at: a.m.richards@csm.arts.ac.uk