Brighton University faces a demonstration against its proposed closure of seven vocational courses.
The classes – in silversmithing, bookbinding, woodwork, photography, printmaking, ceramics and plastics – are known as the Art House courses.
Protesters are due to gather outside the university’s Grand Parade building at 5.45pm tomorrow (Tuesday 16 March).
This is the final week of term for the seven evening classes – part of the university’s “open access” programme. They are not expected to be offered again, according to the protesters.
The closures were reported here on the Brighton and Hove News website on Tuesday 2 March and followed up by The Argus on Friday 12 March.
A website has been set up to highlight the closure of the courses and to campaign to keep them.
The website says: “It is so very disappointing that the university is reversing its long-held commitment to community engagement and we believe it will have a negative impact on the community and on the creative life of many people.
“This valuable provision has been very important to the community at many levels for 150 years.
“The University of Brighton is closing all of its continuing education provision in Grand Parade next year.
“This includes all of the adult education workshop programme and Saturday Art School classes.”
A university spokesperson said: “The University of Brighton is constantly reviewing and updating its course provision to ensure that we meet demand.
“As part of this ongoing process we are suspending our short courses in some areas of art and design while we review our provision during the next academic year.
“Our aim is to work more closely with the local community and the creative and cultural industries to deliver relevant courses.”
