This week we are highlighting resources for Higher Education art and design educators working in universities.
Shades of Noir (SoN) is an independent program created by Aisha Richards in 2009 supporting race equality and its presence in art, design and communication higher education – including: curriculum design, pedagogies of social justice through representation, cultural currency and accessible knowledge. In 2020, SoN formally became part of University of the Arts London (UAL), for which the institution acts as its Centre for Race and Practice-Based Social Justice, a knowledge exchange centre within the university.
Aisha Richards studied, taught and practiced at UAL for two decades and spearheaded significant programmes of work including the ‘Inclusive Teaching and Learning Unit, Teaching Within’ programme among many publications. In its first phase during 2011-2012, the centre hosted UAL’s first, all black-led exhibition with over 2,000 visitors in six weeks, and facilitated open discussions at three different colleges and staff only discussions about race.
“This will enable us to demonstrate further how we practice intersectional anti-racism towards social justice within the University and with our many external partners” - Director of Shades of Noir, The Centre for Race and Practice Based Social Justice
The framework used addresses five main areas: representation, remuneration, reparation, reclamation, redistribution, creating opportunities for marginalised groups and their need for safe spaces to articulate self-determination and liberate the struggles from oppressive structures both in education and society. SoN offers higher education settings a range of activities that support change in behaviour and practice, through an online resource database, debates, exhibitions, workshops, curriculum design, audits, validation and reviews.
“This is a pivotal moment for both Shades of Noir and the university as the BlackLivesMatter and BlackLivesMatterUK campaigns continue to call for change globally and as we develop the UAL anti-racism action plan.” - Simon Ofield-Kerr, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic)
You can find out more on their resources website dedicated to explicitly sharing the knowledge, practices and experiences of students, graduates, HE staff and creative industry collaborators for the purpose of social justice.