Brighton University is axing a series of vocational evening classes at its Grand Parade building.
The classes are in silversmithing, bookbinding, woodwork, photography, printmaking, ceramics and plastics – known as the Art House courses.
Former student Shula Rich, who is also chair of Brighton Hove and District Leaseholders Association, said: “The facilities they used do not exist elsewhere.
“I used them myself and was grateful to walk in without having the formal skills needed to attend a day-time course.
“What this means is an end to public access for ordinary people.
“The Art House courses meant that we could go the art college without a portfolio and without any written qualifications and use university standard facilities.
“Universities have been criticised for not using their facilities to the full.
“This was an extra use in line with requirements so why is it being axed?”
Shula said that the lecturers were teaching skills learnt during long apprenticeships and which could die with them, adding that the bookbinding teacher was over 70.
There is a demonstration against the closure of these courses on Tuesday 16 March outside the University of Brighton’s Grand Parade site in central Brighton at 5.54pm. This is the last week of the evening classes before they close for good and we would welcome peoples support in person or in spirit. Our website is http://www.savebrightonarthouse.org for more information.