UCOL BLOG

One of the country’s richest art scholarship’s for students has been awarded to Fine Arts student Deborah Halliday from Whanganui UCOL’s Quay School of the Arts.

The winner of the pattillo scholarship was named at a function at the Sarjeant Gallery in Whanganui on Friday. The judges were internationally known Louis Le Vaillant, Director of the Johnson Collection in Melbourne; Greg Donson, Curator Public Programmes Manager at the Sarjeant Gallery, and Mary Jane Duffy from the Mary Newton Gallery in Wellington.

Deborah Halliday, who is majoring in painting, won the scholarship with her entry named ‘Mother Science’, a hand-sewn fabric sculpture.  She says the work was inspired by the geometric qualities of the New Zealand Basket Fungus which she has translated into a three-dimensional construction.

The scholarship was established by the Wellington-based consultancy pattillo in 2007 for students of the Quay School for the Arts and will continue for ten years. The winning student receives $7,500 and a commemoratory medal sculpted by nationally recognised jewellery artist Frances Stachl.

Pattillo director, Anne Pattillo, says the 59 entries this year make it the largest ever number of student to put their names forward in the four year history of the scholarship.

“There was a bumper crop of artists and art to choose from and the quality is a credit to the school.”

The winner was chosen from a short-list of 20.
Read More: “Top Whanganui art student named”…

New Zealand’s first graduate programme in clinical genetics will be offered by UCOL from next year.

The Graduate Certificate in Human Clinical Genetics will be offered online from UCOL’s Palmerston North campus. It is based on similar programmes in the United Kingdom and the United States.

UCOL’s Professor of Human Genetics Dr Nick Nicol says the new certificate will appeal to registered health care professionals and others in genetic-related disciplines.

“The introduction of the programme reflects a world-wide recognition of the importance of human clinical genetics to the work of health professions. It’s reinforcing the link between biological science and clinical practice,” he says. “Health care providers themselves need sufficient knowledge to accurately inform their patients and clients on genetic issues.”

Professor Nicol says developments in healthcare are advancing rapidly. “The new developments are the result of advances in the understanding of the role that genetics and genomics play in human development and pathological processes.  Healthcare professionals need access to professional development in current practice in genetics (the study of heredity) and genomics (the study of genes and their functions, and related techniques).

Read More: “UCOL offers new health qualification in genetics”…

Budding artists have the chance to flex their creative muscles at the annual Whanganui Summer School of the Arts. The Summer School will run from 17 -21 January 2011 at Whanganui UCOL’s Rutland Street campus.

The 2011 Summer School is being held slightly later than in previous years and sees the return of several popular courses and tutors. Twelve distinguished artists will each share their particular creative talents during programmes in painting, bookbinding, print and papermaking, photography, sculpture, jewellery, glass, fashion and food. Each programme lasts five days.

The Summer School promises the opportunity to participate in a week of intensive workshops, taught by leading artists in a vibrant and friendly atmosphere of creative production and interaction.

Interim Head of Creative Programmes at Whanganui UCOL Sally-Jane De Salazar says, “Summer School provides a dynamic learning experience with tutors selected not only for their special knowledge, but also for their ability and their desire to share that expertise with others. We are delighted to offer such a stimulating environment where artists can totally immerse themselves in the creative process.”

Read More: “Get taught and terrific at Arts Summer School”…