Venue change won't affect classes

UCOL staff don't know exactly how long their fine arts students will need to be based at the Tupoho Community Complex, but want to assure them all the facilities they need will be there.

Those were two of the key messages in answers from Katrina Langdon, UCOL's Whanganui fine arts programme leader to Wanganui Chronicle questions.

"The move to the Tupoho Community Complex is a shift in the place of work and study only. It does not alter the content or direction of the fine arts programme or majors available," she said.

Any changes to the programmes would be part of business-as-usual practice and were not linked to a temporary change in location.

Whanganui UCOL fine arts students will be based at the complex from the beginning of classes next year. The complex is a former Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic site, still owned by UCOL but being leased by the Tupoho Whanau Trust.

The move is necessary to provide a safer environment for staff and students while UCOL assesses its options for strengthening the Quay School of the Arts buildings in Taupo Quay.

Those buildings met 60 per cent of earthquake code requirements in 2002, but higher standards set in 2008 now left them at less than one-third of required earthquake strength.

The estimated cost to move specialist arts facilities to the Tupoho Complex is $400,000, with an annual rental cost - for about a quarter of the complex - of $200,000 a year.

The shift is to take place during the summer break, to minimise disruption to students.

All the facilities needed for printmaking, painting, sculpture, photography, glass and the Certificate in Art and Design programme would be available, Ms Langdon said.

It is hoped that new and returning students will not be put off by the change of venue.

UCOL carries out marketing and advertising regularly, and plans were being confirmed for enrolments in 2012. There is a fine arts television commercial running on C4, as well as various print advertisements planned.

"Interest in the arts programmes has been reasonably steady over the years and we hope the community will continue to support them."

As for the eventual earthquake strengthening or demolition and rebuilding of the Quay School, Ms Langdon said it was likely that the Royal Commission of Enquiry in Christchurch and any resulting changes to the earthquake code would be considered before the UCOL Council made any decisions.

The strengthening or rebuilding will cost an estimated $5 million to $10 million. Funding could come from UCOL's financial reserves or from the sale of the old campus buildings.