A heartfelt thank you to all who have signed the petition. We wanted to share this powerful statement from Daniel Browning condemning the recent decision by Southern Cross University. Daniel Browning (he/him) is a Bundjalung and Kullilli journalist, radio broadcaster, documentary maker, sound artist and writer. Image credit: @blakandbright
"The decision to axe the degree courses in creative arts at the University of the Southern Cross is short-sighted and mean-spirited, and will have a mortifying effect on the vibrant arts ecology of the Northern Rivers.
I personally deplore this decision, which has stunned staff, students, and the public.
The profound impact this move will have can only be guessed.
As a Bundjalung creative artist, I was forced to move off country to study visual art. This disastrous decision reinstates a system that denies future Bundjalung makers seeking to professionalise a local practice embedded in culture on their own Country the right to remain close and connected to what for many of us is the source of our creativity and the wellspring of our cultural being.
Fragile arts ecologies need social infrastructure such as professional degrees offered by a local public institution to survive, not disinvestment and shrinking budgets.
The lack of faith in the arts as a supplier and builder of human capital is deeply entrenched despite what we know.
Just because you can’t measure the change-making and culture-shifting the arts delivers to our communities in a spreadsheet does not mean it is not fulfilling its purpose, stimulating human creativity and the collective imagination in ways that are fundamental to who we are”.
A big thank you to Daniel for crafting this statement in support of our cause!
Your voice matters and helps shine a light on the importance of preserving our creative arts programs! Sign our student led petition (link in bio)
Email us: saveourbadscu@gmail.com
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We have 1799 signatures at present (7:45am, Monday 4 Nov 2024) - which is great as it has been live only a few days. Did you know that petitions of more than 10,000 signatures have a 'take note debate' in the Legislative Assembly and are published on the Parliament's website and in the Business Paper. It seems a lofty goal but wouldn't it be amazing and really help our chances of saving this degree for our community.