Centre of Art and Design for the Tees Valley

The University of Teesside and Cleveland College of Art and Design today announced that they are jointly planning with Middlesbrough Borough Council to develop a purpose-built new centre for Art and Design in Middlesbrough town centre.

The announcement of the proposed development follows meetings at which the Boards of Governors of both institutions have given agreement in principle to work towards a full merger between the Art College and the University.

David Willshaw, Principal and Chief Executive of the Art College, said: "We have been partners for many years and both institutions are renowned for producing successful students across a wide range of art and design, and related disciplines.

"Seeking to combine our resources, augmented by a purpose-built 'landmark' building in the centre of Middlesbrough, will provide a superb facility for people of all ages to discover and build upon their creative talents. It will place the Tees Valley in a premier position regionally, nationally and even internationally in the development of the creative industries."

The new building is planned to sit alongside Middlesbrough's major new art gallery . Mayor of Middlesbrough, Ray Mallon, said the proposed new centre for Art and Design would give the town centre a new dimension.

"It will greatly assist our plans to develop an enhanced cultural quarter in the centre of Middlesbrough and I am delighted with the proposal and wish the University and the Art College, who are already major assets to the town, every success in this joint venture.

"In Middlesbrough we are committed to providing employment, education and leisure opportunities for all ages. Taken together with the new Art Gallery, this new development will undoubtedly help to improve peoples' perception of Middlesbrough," said the Mayor.

Professor Graham Henderson, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of the University of Teesside, sees the initiative as being central to the delivery of a number of the strategic objectives of the University. "It will strengthen our mission of encouraging widening participation in our activities and make a direct and highly visible contribution to the social and economic regeneration of the area and help us in our aim to deliver excellent learning and teaching for our students".

"The University takes particular pride in the achievement of local people as well as encouraging involvement of both students and businesses from beyond our regional boundaries. This development will add to our commitment to the region and to the development of art & design and the creative industries in the North East.

"The creative industries are ripe for further development in the North East and rather than having students go elsewhere for education and training we are seeking to build on the great talent we have on our doorstep. I firmly believe that this collaboration will deliver that objective".

Both David Willshaw and Professor Henderson stressed that "although discussions are at an early stage they share an exciting vision that working even more closely together the merged institution can potentially place the Tees Valley at the very forefront of art and design nationally and discussions are already underway to explore how this vision can be realised".

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