Plymouth College of Art has appointed Professor Paul Fieldsend-Danks as Interim Principal and Chief Executive

Plymouth College of Art has appointed Professor Paul Fieldsend-Danks as Interim Principal and Chief Executive for the upcoming 2021/22 academic year. As Academic Dean with strategic academic leadership of Plymouth College of Art’s School of Arts + Media, School of Design + Communication and School of Critical + Cultural Studies, Paul has led the College’s undergraduate, postgraduate and further education portfolios. Paul’s appointment ensures stability for staff and students and a continuation of the vision that has seen the independent, university-sector art school (established in 1856) work in partnership with national organisations such as Tate and the British Council, retaining a broad focus for excellence in creative education.

With over twenty years of experience of academic leadership in Higher Education, Paul is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Arts (RSA) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (HEA). Prior to joining Plymouth College of Art in 2016, Paul was Head of Taught Postgraduate Awards at Norwich University of the Arts, Senior Lecturer in Fine Art at Norwich University of the Arts, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Fine Art at University of Bath/Swindon College School of Art & Design, and Lecturer for BA (Hons) Fine Art at Oxford Brookes University.

Professor Andrew Brewerton, who is stepping down after eleven years as Principal and Chief Executive of Plymouth College of Art, said: “I’m delighted at Paul’s appointment. I’m confident that the distinctive community, ethos and values of this great Art School will continue to thrive under his leadership, and its profile continue to develop nationally and internationally.”

“Paul has played a formative role in the redesign and validation of the College’s entire undergraduate curriculum for launch in September. He has a visionary commitment to innovation in the student experience, embedding creative learning and social justice within each interdisciplinary specialism, within an extraordinary rich and diverse studio and workshop environment.”

David Noyce, Chair of Governors at Plymouth College of Art, said: "Thanks to the legacy of strong leadership and culture of accountability and ambition that Professor Andrew Brewerton leaves Plymouth College of Art with, the stage is set for Paul to ensure that our message, ethos and values continue to resonate far beyond the South West of England, nationally and internationally. Paul will lead Plymouth College of Art through the upcoming national multi-site exhibition, British Art Show 9, through the 2021 Making Futures biennial symposium of contemporary craft and maker movements, and out of the pandemic that has made Higher Education more essential than ever for students who are committed to using creativity to transform their communities and future careers. On behalf of the Board of Governors at Plymouth College of Art we look forward to working closely with Paul over the coming year.”