NCAD+UCD Launch Innovative ‘City Life’ Summer School
– Students will creatively engage with Dublin and explore urban culture –
A new international summer school will take place in Dublin city centre this July, exploring issues such as urban history, interaction design, spatial arts and architecture.
The ‘City Life’ summer school is a joint initiative of University College Dublin (UCD) and the National College of Art and Design (NCAD), and is being organised as part of the NCAD+UCD venture, a HEA-funded project to develop the institutional relationship between NCAD and UCD.
A range of cultural and creative leaders will contribute to the ‘City Life’ summer school, including Dublin City Council City Architect Ali Grehan and Director Emeritus of the National Museum of Ireland Dr Pat Wallace.
Speaking at the announcement of the summer school programme today (09.04.15), Professor Declan McGonagle, Director of NCAD, said: “This summer school will give attendees an opportunity to explore and respond to Dublin’s rich urban culture. It will run over three weeks, and will combine tours, visits and special events with shared studio activity and focused workshops and lectures.
“The summer school will be based at NCAD’s Thomas Street campus, in the heart of the historic centre of Dublin. Students will have unique access to leaders in the cultural and creative sector, and will meet and work with significant artists, museum directors and critical thinkers.”
‘City Life’ is targeted at students from a wide range of academic disciplines, including architecture, art, design, planning, geography, archaeology, media studies, computer science, humanities, business and engineering. The deadline for applications is Friday, 1st May 2015 and the summer school will take place from Monday 13th July to Friday 31st July. The cost of the programme is €2,500.
Also speaking at today’s programme announcement, Professor Hugh Campbell of UCD’s School of Architecture, who is leading the NCAD+UCD venture, said: “We have developed an exciting and engaging programme, which will unfold over three weeks, moving from an early research and review stage through studio work and workshops, and finally bringing ideas to fruition for dissemination though exhibition, presentation, and potential publication.
“What’s really exciting about this programme is the opportunity it presents to assess both the cultural heritage and the ongoing transformation of Dublin, from a city-centre base. We will offer a strand on ‘Culture, Memory and the City’, for example, which will address themes central to current national and international debates on memory and urban cultures. This is particularly topical given we are currently celebrating the Decade of Centenaries and the anniversary of 1916 is fast approaching.”
For further information and to apply for a place on the ‘City Life’ summer school, visit www.ncad-ucd.ie. Queries regarding the summer school can be directed to ncaducdsummerschool@ucd.ie.
ENDS
Contact: Sarah Harte, DHR Communications, Tel: 01-4200580 / 087-9858259
