2 10 12 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/d71c513167e0526d581aa25166d60e94.pdf 43d832d7b171549938f0f6746dda75ec Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Brian Anson/ARC pre and post Harrogate Subject The topic of the resource Various documents describing ARC ideas and activities See below Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ARC Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1975-1976 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Colne Valley News Subject The topic of the resource ARC promoted the conversion of redundant mills into small work units or flats (8pp) Description An account of the resource October 1976 "SINCE THE DEMISE OF THE COLNE VALLEY GUARDIAN EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE VALLEY AREA HAS NOT HAD ANYTHING LIKE THE PUBLIS- ~HED REPRESENTATION IT’S PROBLEMS WARRANT. THIS FIRST ISSUE IS_INTENDED TO EXPRESS ONE PARTICULAR VIEW, IDEALLY THE NEXT ISSUE WILL CARRY A WIDE VARIETY OF LOCAL OPINION. WE ONLY HOPE THAT THE PAPER WILL ALWAYS SPEAK OUT STRONGLY ABOUT IMPORTANT LOCAL ISSUES. THE MAJOR THEME OF THIS ISSUE IS POTENTIAL, NOT GRUMBLES ABOUT THE PRESENT OR NOSTALGIA FOR THE PAST, BUT IDEAS & POSSIBILITIES IN THE FUTURE. . Dy COLNE VALLEY NEWS. OCTOBER 1976 WHO AND WHY An introduction to the Colne Valley News and the Community Architecture Team BY GEORGE MILLS This newsheet is hopefully the first of many. Through it we hope thatalively, locally initiat- ed debate will begin, which may inspire people to act regarding their own futures in the Colne Valley. This first issue has been put to- gether by a group of planners and architects from the Comm- unity Architecture Team, who have worked as designers for local tenant and resident groups up and down the country. On the strength of our work we were given a grant to work in the Colne Valley. From past exper- ience we realize the value of hav- ing a good pamphlet or newsheet circulating in the areas we work in. Hopefully the subsequent issues of this newsheet will be written, produced and distribut- ed by local people from up and down the valley. We have in our grant a small sum of money allocated for that purpose. EXPERIENCE The communities we have worked with have mainly been in areas threat- ened by demolition, redevelopment or extinction by cumbersome and insen- sitive planning. We basically believe that the people who live and work in a particular area should have the major say when it comes to debating that areas future, not faceless local govern- ment departments or profit minded developers. Our work has been al over the country, in Liverpool, South Wales, Covent Garden and most rec- ently in the London Borough of Eal- Ing, working with the residents of these areas trying to prevent the destruction of their homes and work places. We realize that the situation in the Colne Valley is a little different, but no planning can be just as dest- ructive as too much planning, part- icularly when an area is subject to the kind of problems that seem to be affl- icting the Colne Valley. A very familiar sight. LOCAL GOVERNMENT The recently published information about West Yorkshires forthcoming publicity exercise to find out what people in the area want in the future is a typical example of so called ‘Public Participation in Planning’. This part- icipation usually consists of specific- ally prepared questions which some how manage to avoid the contentious issues in an area. The Colne Valley does not just need more industry, ora better bus service, or a cleaned up environment. The proposed public mectings being held up and down the county will tell the planners nothing - the questions they will ask will not get right to the root of the areas problems. They will not be considering the dignity, self respect or aspirations of the people of the areas, because most planners and bureaucrats are incapable of working at that level. Until they come down from their ivory towers to the street level and see reality, they have no right to plan for any area It is the people in the villages of the Colne Valley that should deter- mine its future directly, not local governments who are notorious for misrepresenting the aspirations and desires of people in their areas. HOPES We hope we can work with the res- idents of Marsden, Linthwaite Slaith- waite, Milnsbridge and Golcar to try and revitalize some local industry and activity which will prevent the depop- ulation of the area and hopefully give the Colne Valley some of the vigour the declining textile industry seems to be sapping from it. We sense that the valley has many qualities and resources as yet untapped, which though not at first obvious,still exist. These can only be found in areas that have not been swallowed up by urban sprawl from nearby towns and cities. Unlike most planners and architects we are very aware of the real qualities of such places as exist in the Colne Valley. Through our work in other parts of the country we have learned that these qualities are never catered for in the grand master plans, local and central governments usually produce. Over the page are just a few initial ideas which might start the ball rolling, they are not proposals, just sketches which can be used to talk about the possibilities. CONTENTS FREE FIRST ISSUES There are five hundred copies of this first issue. With a subsid rom our grant, subsequent issues should work Out around four or five pence each. WHO AND WHY PEOPLE OR PAWNS PAGE 2 PAGE 3 WHO HOLDS THEY KEY? THE CARDS STACKED AGAINST THE VALLEY PAGE & INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS WITH A HUMANE CAUSE PAGE 5 TAKE ONE EMPTY MILL PAGE 6 A DISMANTLED MILL BUILDING VILLAGES ARE NOT PURPOSE-MADE SUBURBS PAGE 8 PAWNS: An Editorial appraisal of the Colne Valley and its future Crimble Mil, Slaithwaite,-any takers ? In appearance the Colne Valley has not altered drastically for nearly a hundred years. Its main villages have had a few bits tack- ed on to them, a few more roads, a few more houses and the odd new factory. The main commun- ication routes are still the same, road, canal and railway, though through dereliction or transport policy these are nowhere near as busy as they were in the past. The stable industry in the valley is still what it has been for nearly two centuries, basically woollen and worsted fabric production, though no one in the area needs reminding what is happening to that basic industry. ADVERSE CHANGES Whenavast jndustry isrunning down at the rate that textiles are in the Colne Valley, or at the rate that the coal mining industry ran down in the South Wales valleys, it has a great effect on the people indigenous to those areas. It is always the older established communities that feel the harsher effects of industrial and economic change. This is the only certain thing that can be said about the valley, it is in the process of change. We are starting our work in the valley with the assumption that with the right conditions prevailing, most of the indigenous population, the people who live and work in the area now, would like to stay here. be capable.of sustaining the popul- ation, and which will provide a future firmly established in the roots and origins, the character and nature of the people from the Colne Valley area. Successive governments have seen no social detriment tn unemployed men and women with their families having to move sometimes hundreds of miles to get employment. Only the people directly affected by these wrenches Know the adverse change and disrup- tion involved in such a move. People who are caught in this tight economic trap have only two choices open to them, move, leaving friends, relatives and familiar things, or stay and remain unemployed or underemployed. In the Colne Valley many people over the past few years must have been con- fronted with this choice, or those that haven't, must be aware that they are likely to be within the next few years. Family and community break up from choice is part of accepted human nature, the young and restless have always fled the nest, but when people are forced by circumstances beyond thetr control into leaving their homes Britannia Mils Milnsbridge, rotting for and familiar areas, it is a social in- the last fow years. GOOD RIDDANCE ? Some people will be glad to be rid of the textile industry for once and for all, others will mourn its continuing decline. Those with first hand exper ience of mill working and its related social and domestic lifestyle, know that there were good times and bad times, good decades and bad ones. Their instincts may tell them that the present decline is for good, and that the industry has to decline even further, before it reaches a size where itcan stabilize itself. At the moment there seems to be a great many people with unwanted skills and a kind of pride that doesn’t seem relevant or valuable to new ways and methods of present day indust- rialization. Many factors affect people who find themselves unemployed or employed in a job that they are not really suited to, which may also entail commuting out of the area where al there roots and ties are. justice. If industry in the area con- tinues to be slow in evolving to a sub- stantial level, not only will the young be unemployed, they will be left with little or no choice regarding their own futures. If no industry takes the place of the very large gaps left by the mills, then sadly, it will not only be the young who will be forced to leave. INFORMATION NEEDED Wehavesomeplansofmilsand other derelict land and buildin- gs, but any kind ofdocuments, plans, gossip etc., that people think could be useful in the work,wouldbegreatlyappre- ciated. GEORGE MILLS. COLNE VALLEY NEWS. OCTOBER 1976 3 One of these prevailing conditions, in fact THE prevailing condition must be that they can AFFORD to stay here, which means there must be work in the area for both the old and young, men and women. There must be a type of industrial development which must 4 COLNE VALLEY NEWS. OCTOBER 1976 WHO HOLDS THE KEY TO THE FUTURE OF THE VALLEY? BY PETE MOLONEY When an area has a good deal of redun- dant buildings and plots, the easy way out for the people who own the land and buildings is try and get them designated for housing use. When a spate of il thought out estates start to spring up al over the place, the local authority can then start collect- ing rates again. This haphazard, juggl- ing of land and buildings has never bettered the lives of people living in an area. The people who work in the sphere of ‘community architecture’ have totally the opposite view to this, belicving that the people who live and work in an area should be the major concern when planning, and they should not Marsden Mills have inflicted upon them the second rate solutions designed with only profit or prestige motives in mind. THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE COLNE VALLEY IF ITS COMMUNITIES ARE NOT SEEN AS ITS PRIMARY VALUE, COULD BE SOCIALLY DISASTER- OUS! COMMUNITY | ARCHITECTS OFFICE ; 1,NED LANE SLAITHWAITE So, how do such communities dictate their own futures? The solutions to many of the problems can start from the people up and down the valley, we believe it is they who hold the key to their own future. Small things which do not require a great deal of finance could be started fairly quickly, more ambitious schemes could follow, but we believe that without that initial spirit from the communities being the prime motivator, none of them would be worthwhile. There are ways and means by which owners of some of the derelict prop- erties and land could be approached, and through the formation of assoc- lations, societies, cooperatives or com- panies, groups of people in one form or another may be able to acquire the use of land and buildings in the area. The initial small scale ideas could indicate the potential of the area and inspire other people to get inyolv- ed. Some ideas will flounder for various reasons, others could be very successful, they could begin to decis- ively affect the development of the valley’s future in a way that brings out its dormant qualities. access to the motorways present a much more viable proposition to investors. Local and regional reports on the area refer to the Colne Valley’s potential as a dormitory area, which apart from being an insult to the people living and working in the area, is an extremely cynical and pessimistic way to view a place with such a vibrant history. The fact that the valley was at the very heart of Britain's industrial expansion in the 19th and 20th Century seems to have nd bearing on the way it isbeing ignored in the 1970's. The term dormitory means just what it infers, a place where nobody works, they just live there and go elsewhere to work. Through our office in Slaith- waite, any groups or individuals who want to seriously begin to discuss ideas and schemes can get together. People interested in NATIONAL CARDS ARE STACKED Working out solutions to the Colne Valley's problems is by no means easy. The fact the area has a good record for industrial industrial or commercial invest- relations is, in itself, not good NEXT ISSUE Itishardateat tosayif the paper wil published ona monthly, fortnightly or.every week basis. Whatever itwil need layout people, feature, sports, events and opinion writers. Plus cartoons, cross- words etc. ANYBODY INTERESTED IN THE PRODUCTION OF THE NEXT ISSUE CAN MEET THROUGH OUR OFFICE IN SLAITHWAITE. ment. Contrary to popular belief it seems highly unlikely that the government will ever impose tough enough import restrictions to prevent the closure of further mills. In short, at the present time the Colne Valley does not have a great deal going for it. By Rob Thompson enough to attract the necessary Though the valley runs parallel to the M62 Motorway, there is difficult terrain to Cross to get to it in harsh weather conditions. There does not seem to be any chance of an improved local or regional train service. The extinct mills present many problems to would-be industrialists, unwilling to invest the required amount of continuing and improving the money into buildings in an area, which for them, appears to have a very unpredictable future. The sites on the eastern side of Huddersfield with easier, flatter terrain and better newsheet can contact others through the office too. Nothing will happen unless people really Start taking an active part in their own futures. THE REGIONAL AND AGAINST THE VALLEY WITHOUT THE EXPLOITATION OF RESOURCES OR PEOPLE. EXISTING HOUSIN east HI agg BeULytsSs COULD BECOME A REALLY PLEASANT HOUSING BLOCK WITH ever GARMENT MAKING S KIDS PLAY CENTRE ETC. ~ COURTYARDS ON EACH PEOOR | EXISTING INDUSTRY :a FTOHRE KWIHDOSL:E RIVER AND CAMAL SIDE COLLD BE AND3 STOREY B S$ igs AND WAREHOUS/ THE EMPTY AREAS The river below Golcar-ill used land. (cont on page 7) COLNE VALLEY NEWS. OCTOBER 1976 5 OGRESS WITH AHUMANE CAUSE The Colne Valley’s own rise and fall highlights some of the effects mass industrialization can have on aplace. When the area began its boom in the 18th Century it destroyed the old established textile industry inNorfolk, Devon and Oxfordshire, At present the industries of the Far East are threaten- ing to destroy the industry in the West Riding. The economic market cycle keeps turning, irrespective of social consequences, and the one-industry areas such as the Colne Valley are very vulnerable, because all their eggs are in one very flimsy basket. In reality the Colne Valley today is the product of two very socially destruc- tive forces, one being that it developed around very big factory units, the mills, and the other that there were a great many of these concentrated in a relatively small area. So in local and national terms it would be suicidal to try and reinstate textile production in large mills and consequently it would be just as disasterous to find one industry of equivalent size to replace it. INDUSTRIAL PR Even though the part the Colne Valley played in Britain’s mass industrialization was significant, that growth must be viewed in the light of what we know about its effects today. The type of in- dustrial growth which we as a nation fostered all over the world, is being seen today as the major culprit behind the pollu- tion of nature’s systems and the ensuing scarcity of the earth’s raw materials. So it would be de- trimental to just say that indust- ry in the valley must get-back into full swing, without consid- ering the wider implications of the effects of large scale industry on the lives of people and the places they live in. On the global scale we are now exper- iencing shortages of most raw mater- ials. When textiles first began in the area it was because the wool from the local sheep was particularly suited to making the fabrics for which the valley became noted and because the water in the River Colne was particul- arly good for dyeing and bleaching that material. That was a long time ago, if the industry had stabilized at a size where it could supply itself locally, it would not have grown so cumbersome and virtually reliant for al its raw materials on importation. It would be fatal, in a radically changing world, to build up any new industries on a base that relies so heavily on imported material. Scarcity and cost would soon destroy such an industry today. LOUIS HELLMAN & GEORGE MILLS EVEMING ACTIVITIES COULD INCLUDE PRA SPORTS FACILITIES, MIGHT CLASSES. MILLS IN THE VALLEY BOTTOM-MILNSBRIDGE ONE IDEA Ste, MILL. | Metalworking 6 COLNE VALLEY NEWS. OCTOBER 1976 OUSES, SCHOOLS THEVARIOUSSKILLSINTHE <> AREA COULD COMBINE _<o= “AHorticulture -4Fish farming TO ALTER, THEN WORK FROM THE | CONVERTED 5 _4Waste pulping Recycling of { fabrics SHOPS OR STORES. Aa ++seeIFAGROUP OF PEOPLE CGULD RAISE THE CASH TO ACQUIRE ONE OF EMPTY MILLS IN THe VALLEY, TarndtSAN naetGov Se : USING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY, COULD FROM). { possible uses. HUMBLE BEGINNINGS GROW INTG GOOD Size|j CONCERNS. MODIFICATION OF THE MILLS FOR|. Woodworkin TEMPORARYUSESCOULDBEMADECHEAPLY| Plasticmouling 4 PLUS ALL THE 4ANCILLARY USES FROM THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES. WATER AND LAND WITH ldings.... -».WELL SUITED FOR CONVERS- 1ON INTO H bui AED dangig, METEH Xe oz =m “sE ice ow Be Z x - £ & ae Yj)»_off lo es us CS ae WS SSCS weds Popeater os 9 te ee yee Oore TAKE ONE EMPTY MILL CLA>,SeLaOgeerTHROARTIC ESKPON.OTMmill_ ponds°-WITH AFAIRLY ZED pek7 4,FL TU. SONS © MODEST OFTLAYASUBSTANTIAL INCOME EXCEL ROQROTHe OOK YONTM CAN BE OBTAINED eRe. FISH FARMING. BEN. PRo~ GREOULD v7 THIS INCOME COULD FINANCE MORE COSTLY NEarp OUC BRENKo, BE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE MAIN BUILDINGS. \,OTHER POSS- Pa. IBLE USES. “=< POTENTIAL STONES SE OF\SLAT IN THE br COLNE VALLEY NEWS OCTOBER 1976 7 OF E VALL INDUSTRIAL PROGRESS A HUMANE WITH CAUSE (continued from page5) LIED BY THE NUMBER MPTY MILLS The future industrial base of the Colne Valley must be very diverse, therefore because of the area we are talking about, just a six mile long strip of valley, there must be agreat number of small industries producing a great varicty of commodities. Loc- ally this means a great choice of work, which will act as a magnet for the young and restless in the valley, and greater financial stability. Greater stability because in a period of decline only specific kinds of industry will be affected, others will continue to flourish, which means only a few people will be affected, not the whole population of the valley as it is now. The drudgery and sheer inhumanity of the conveyor belt/factory system which we have developed through large industries, is at present under very severe scrutiny. People are now at last beginning to realize that the greatest resource on the planet, people themselves, should not be subjected to the sheer monotony and degrad- ation of most of our factories, they should be valued much more highly. The more humane methods of pro- duction and technology now being developed, which give workers a great deal more satisfaction than the factory system ever did and at the same time are much more aware of the scarcity COMFORTABLE AND PRODUCTIVE WORKSHOPS __ADISMANTLED MILL BUILDIN Small industries can change and adapt much more quickly, in real terms be more economic, and have historically meant a much more satisfying and rewarding life for the people working in them. rt Unlike the situation with textiles, where change meant large scale invest- ment because of the sheer size of the concern, small scale concerns are much more flexible and can adapt quickly to the ever changing methods of production. of the earth’s resources could be applied quickly to new small industr- ies. Cheap and long lasting forms of technology could be the life blood needed by the Colne Valley to get some small industries off the ground. An awareness of the real potential of the vacant land and buildings in the valley coupled with these new meth- ods, could give people a sustained and rewarding future in the area. To the average eye the Colne Valley may appear to be destined for a grim future, or it may be ripe for a tourist industry or a national industrial mus- eum six miles long! But a long hard look beneath this surface reveals a great potential which must not be undervalued, a potential of people, land and buildings which, if it were tapped could provide an extremely rewarding, even exciting next few decades. BY PAUL GORKA & BRIAN ANSON GOLCAR evolved and the nature and character of its other reason than convenience. At a time when everyone is be- ginning to realize the pitfalls of living and working in large cities, or in the sprawling New Towns where most new industry is tem- pted to go, it seems ironic that places such as Golcar or Marsden are being allowed to deteriorate through lack of investment in industry, agriculture and hous- ing. The size and character of If an old industrial area begins to get a second lease of life from being merely a retreat from city life, the place, with- in a very short space of time loses its fundamental quality, becomes as root- less and sterile as a new town or spraw- ling estate. If the people of the Colne Valley do not begin to take a real interest in its future, the local and regional govern- ments will get their way, and the area will become just another suburb. Social change take time, good or bad, but if the warning signs up and down the valley are not heeded soon, the process of deterioration could begin to accelerate. Many areas in towns, cities and villages all over Britian have | STOP PRESS settlements like these provide that delicate balance between town and country, urban and rural. The small towns and villages around most industrial areas have this quality. When it becomes uneconomic for the indigenous population to remain in their area, on leaving, their places for the most part, are taken by the more affluent rumoured redevelopment which makes never really got soing commuters wishing to get away from nearby conurbation or city, preferring the more pleasant environment offered by the small town or village. This in itself is not a bad thing, but when it begins to disturb the social/ economic balance of a place, the overall quality of that place begins to deteriorate socially. people panic and move, or because new development nearby acts as a magnet for people, industry and cash, leaving the other area with few attr- ibutes to make people want to stay there. The absolute pity about the Colne Valley is that it has so much potential as a good place to live and work, that no one seems prepared to recognize. People may consider it romantic to think of the Colne Valley as a good place to live, you could ask what is good about steep paths and roads, The vague and wooley attitude of the people running the meeting made it very difficult for the real issues to be discussed. They expressed concern for every problem, but hed no real policy to tackle any of them. Areas like the valley need some action, not sympathy. in Just a few short years changed from being vibrant and lively places into blighted and run down slums. This is because areas get some kind of curse on them. Either in the form of a The Public Meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall held on the 25th Oct, to discuss the West Yorks ‘Structure Plan' -MADE SUBURBS VILLAGES ARE NOT P THE VALUE OF VALLEY SETTLEMENTS COLNE VALLEY NEWS OCTOBER 1976 inhabitants evolved with it. Today we expect kinships to flower in estates planted in the middle of nowhere for na URPOSE back to back houses and old mills. Well in all honesty in themselves as Scparate entities, there is nothing good about them. The important thing is THAT IF A POPULATION HAS GROWN UP IN A PARTICULAR ENVIRONMENT, THEY CREATE IN AND AMONGST IT, PATTERNS, HABITS, AFFINITIES AND WAYS WHICH GIVE IT A UNIQUE QUAL- ITY. A quality which may be only in the eye of the bcholder, BUT A QUALITY WHICH MUST BE REC- OGNIZED AS BEING AN INCR- EASINGLY MORE IMPORTANT PART OF A SATISFYING EVERY- DAY LIFE. The buildings, together with the settlements they make up, would be totally dead without the corresponding nature and character of the people who have lived and worked amongst them. The two are insepar- able, Slaithwaite would be a totally different place filled with people from Leeds, just as Slaithwaite people would feel uneasy and out of place living in Leeds. This is not to say that Slaithwaite should surround itself with barbed wire and keep out allcomers, BUT IF THE DOMINANT NATURE CEASES TO DICTATE THE VILLAGE'S CHAR- ACTER, IT WILL SOON LOSE OF SLAITHWAITERS THOSE QUALITIES WHICH MAKE IT A GOOD PLACE TO LIVE. This applies to every settlement in the valley. It is up to the people living in the different villages to start working out ways of enhancing cach one, regretting their decline is not enough. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Editor George Mills ARC Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Oct-76 https://nam.maydayrooms.org/files/original/30fc6eb4f053fce58877841f6edb5fb4.pdf 3dc62fbb1209cce5ab0c110de3b2a69a Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Brian Anson/ARC pre and post Harrogate Subject The topic of the resource Various documents describing ARC ideas and activities See below Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource ARC Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 1975-1976 Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource SAC Conference 1979 Subject The topic of the resource Schools of Architecture Council (SAC) Festival of Education, Sheffield (file) Description An account of the resource ARCHITECTURAL Alvin Boyarsky, B Arch (McGill).MRAP (Comell) MRAIC Square London WCIB 3ES 01-676 0974 3. Se<ptember 1979. To: Ted Cullinan. Cedric Price, Louis Hellman. John Toomey (Covent Garden) Richard Rogers. Colin Ward, John Murray. (NAM) Rob Thompson. (ARC) Geoffrey Markham. (RIBA Student) John Maule McKean. (SAC) ARCHITECTURE Best wishes, Brian Anson. I would be most grateful, and it would help a lot, if we could all meet to have a drink to discuss the Festival in some detail. I would like to suggest any evening of the week beginning 23 September, and could I begin by suggesting Monday 24 in the basement of Percy Street at 6-30? SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE COUNCIL. I feel I owe some explanation as to wh y i have taken the planning so far with- out your full involvement, and I'd like to do that when we meet. Would you let me know if $5 can make this date? I can be reached either at the AA or at home - 3903280. + ASSOCIATION SCHOOL OF Festival of Education - Sheffield, I enclose the information presently being printed in Liverpool; the actual pamphlet will be ready by the 14 September and certainly by the time we meet. The Schoo! is run by the Architectural Association Incorporated, a com, No.171402. Its registered office address is as above. The AA {Inc} is also pany limited by guarantee and registered in England under @ registered charity under Section 4 ofthe Charities Act 1960, / /: WHOSE EDUCATION IS IT AN) ’ \o hifectural Education. NAY Festival o PEACH DATE iiME The School of Architecture, Arts J Wednesday 28 November to Friday 30 Welcoming ceremony of 45 mins. - | Prof, Gosling and student: welc: 1 hefficld school. ChairomfaSnAC: welcore tothe movement Ted Cullinan: RIBA Education Commiutice NAM spiyhesman. Richard Rogers, Hellman: welcome with adrawing. Cedric Price. Rob Thompson. Percy Sircet Atelier and ARC. Picgramine p PROGRAMME: Programme presented on arrival. The aim is flexibility and participation. Formal structure will be minimal. The concept is a market place of ideas in education. The opportunity is to tear down barriers, dissolve prejudice and expose worn out el ‘big names’ have been invited, but as participants, to be student rt whichever is appropriate at the time. Always the theme will be archi- ural education. Listen to the famous on the subject, Do idols have fect of clay? Hear the unknown. Whose education is it anyway? Events will occur simultaneously Fixed events will be few (if any). Move from one to the other. Take your pick or just float. Time will not rule this festival, it will rol] on. “.. . some of us get our second wind at midnight . ..” Cedric Price PARTICIPATION The skeletal structure of the Festival exists; it is very strong. Now we want your participation. We want you to bring the market place ideas. Have you anexperiment a presentation; a slide show; 2 play. Fill in the box below and send us details by 3 November (nothing considered after that date). COST Students £5. All others £10. OAP’s and children under 14, free Sheffield architectural students. Free. ACCOMMODATION: Through the generosity of the Sheffield students and others, we will have aschedule of ‘put you up’ accommodation, but this will be limited and you are urgently advised to make your own arrangements in the first instance. Please respond quickly if you wish to be put on the accommodation list. Festival fee must be enclosed before you are considered, For accommodation contact: Mark Parsons 112 Denison Street Beeston Nottingham Tel: 0602 222494 : FOOD: There will be no official catering, but it is expected that students will set up ‘food tables’ with cheap food for sale. Other arrangements may be made with the Sheffield Students Union. SALE OF LITERATURE: The Festival is a perfect opportunity for students and others to publicise the vast array of pamphlets, magazines, posters and manifestos on architectural matters that exist throughout the country. So set up a stall and sell your writings. INVITED PARTICIPANTS: Jim Stirling, Norman Foster, David Green (former Archigram), John Murray (NAM), Prof. Alan Lipman (NAM), Hans Harm (Einthoyen), Conrad Jamieson (scourge of the architects), Derek Walker, Walter Segal, Tom Wooley (Support), Anne Delaney, Alison Smithson, David Wilde (Big Red Diary), David Brock, Ron Weiner (‘Rape and plunder of Shankill’), Rod Hackney, Jane McDonald, Ian Todd, Dr. Roland Gunter (Eisenheim), Hubert Puig (la Canard Suavage), Jim Johnson (Assist), Anatole Kopp (Vincennes), Gordon Graham (ex President RIBA). m Wednesday, University i| | ‘ | ; Ce ue / tnAprilthisye1awraselectedfotheCi pe hoolsofA Council, the student delegates, with a fi 1 fi if and a few h ads, sade this possible. Thus an unbroken «! { 1. ds chairing SAC was swvered, 1aminofficefortwoyearsmd y¥ «) 1student SAC, the joint body of al 38 school he UK and Ireland, hasbeen deseribed by Proof, Dayid Gosling of the Sheffield schoo! “| The only democratic body inarchit. as . etural education — more demo- with the vast majonty being students. Comn or else they become servile. es can only govern themselves, But something went wrong with SAC. It became moribund, the majority of the community (students and staff) became bored, then indifferent, finally they forgot it. It was not difficult to sce why. Each school has three delegates at the annual conference — the head, a staff member and a student. 38 students represent &,000 students in the community; 38 heads represent themselves. It is ibsurd! And what for — what can SAC do? Brian Anson cratic than the RIBA and ARCUK cominittecs concerned with «ducation heads of schools, staff members and students. ..” Phe movement isbarely eight years old — an infant compared to its SO yearsold American counterpart, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (sith which SAC now has strong links). It grew out of the former “Heads of Schuols Group’, an adjunct of the RIBA. Its foundation was radical and its objective \ +s independence, for many of its creators its ultimate goal was the contro! of archi tectural education out of the hands of the RIBA and ARCUK. Their aspirati were right, SAC is a nafionwide ‘conin ity, a hering of nearly 10,000 people My election platform was quite specific. I emphasised the potential of the student body; experience in various forms of action and organisation, Tam not cynical about the student body. On the contrary, I belicve they represent a vitality and idealism which no one has ever tried to tap. Iwould have a similar optimism in the staff and heads, but let us start first with the students.” Let us tap this enormous fount of energy. Iwould make aconcerted diive to reach the mass body of students. Despite long and bitter My first job as Chairman was to present proposals for radical change in the repre- sentative structure — each school electing 1 head, 2 staff and 3 students, an equal power structure of learning and teaching. It was greeted with violent antagonism from some quarters, strong approval from others (including some heads) and other radical proposils to democratise the movement (again from some heads). The issue is alive, and its debate can bring SAC alive. Ultimately that is for us to decide as a community“and before we do that we must organise, as democratically as possible. 1 believe we must organise our own education — to break the influence of the profession which presently controls us; whose education is it anyway? This we can do from the strength of our 10,000 strong community of brilliant teachers and brilliant students, but it will take organisation and long-term strategy. If we tap the potential of our own community, the ideas for SAC are legion, in this letter Ioffer but a few. The SAC Executive has already started to organise the sponsorship of an international lecturer to travel the UK. SAC could sponsor students and staff to take time off to operate in other schools, thus disseminating the knowledge we have in our community. We urgently need a body capable of experimenting with ideas not yet readily acceptable in society; SAC could fulfil that role. Whatever else SAC could become an ‘ideas bank’ for architectural education. The ideas are there in their thousands — you have them! Our principal role as a community is to unearth them, disseminate them and use them forachange. There is now a permanent SAC office at 10 Percy Street, London WC1. But the postal address and tel. no. is the Architectural Association. I hope you will consider this office your own and Iwould welcome communication from any of you, particularly your ideas for SAC. Remember, in the last week of November, al roads lead to Sheffield — I hope to see you there! programme, see details enclosed. (Please give as ful details as possible on separate sheet, space required, Address/ Tel. No SAC FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION. NOVEMBER 1979 All enquiries to Architectural Association, 34/36 Bedford Square, London WC]. Telephone: 01 636 0974 TED CULLINAN ‘Draw it please’ Participate in continuous drawit with overhead projector. Richard Co Cedric... ROGERS WARD PRICE ‘Whatever happened to Polyark, What IS a schoo! of architecture?’ IOUN TOOMEY/AUTHUR DOOLEY. ‘Workerass Peachers!’ I/We wish to participate in the cre tion of the Festiv t, special effects, duration of ev STUDENT/STAFF GROUPS — NATIONWIDE. Ixperimental concepts HELLMAN *Let’s make education laugh’. Cartooning on the spot. ) SAC FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION, NOVEMBER 1979 il enquiries to Architectural Association, 34/36 Bedford Square, London WC1. Tek phone: 01 636 0974 /We wish to register as a participant at The Sheffield Festival and encl the ppropriate fee of... 2... (Students £5, others £10) cheques to*SAC Festival Account’. 1/We wish to be put on the accommodation list Name:. et School/Year ertesusns@emehowesaescsccseansspvanheosaau SAC Exccutive Committee 1979-80 Addr Chaisman: Vie Treasurer/Sec Reserve . Coopted Coopted Co-opted Covpted Co-opted Coopted Tcl. No:. ian Brian Anson(st.) JainT 1s (s) John McKean (st.) Henry Booton (st.) David Breakell (s) Wilson Briscoe (h) Geoffrey Broadbent th) Dennis Berry (h) George Cameron (s) Andrew Cunningham (s) Michael Darke (h) Mike Duriez (st.) David Gosling (h) Ted Happold (h) Geoffrey Hast Pedro Gt James Kackinnon (st.) Geoffrey Markham (s) Tom Markus (h) Ken Martin (h) Cho Padamsce (h) Mark Parsons (s) Alison Poulter (s) Alan Smith (st.) David Walters (st) Architectural Ass jon Canterbury N.E.LP Leeds Liverpool U. PNL Portsmouth Kingston Liverpoo) Poly ham Manchestez Poly Edinburgh Univ Shefficld Bath Hull AA Dundce RIBA Strathclyde Liverpool Poly. Hull Nottingham Manchester Univ. Oxford Plymouth One student vacancy due to resignation of Janet Kicboe, Heyiot Watt - (h)he(sat)sdtaff,,(st)student a festival of architectura Richard Colin Cedric... ROGERS WARD PRICE ‘Whatever happened to Polyark. What IS a school of architecture?’ Chairman: V. Chairman Treasurer/Sec: Brian Anson (st.) lain Douglas (s) John McKean (st.) Henry Booton (st.) David Breakell (s) Wilson Briscoe (h) Geoffrey Broadbent (h) Dennis Berry (h) George Cameron (s) Andrew Cunningham (s) Michael Darke (h) Architectural Association Canterbury N.E.LP Leeds Reserve Co-opted Liverpool U PNL Portsmouth K Co-opted Liverpool Poly. Birmingham Manchester Poly Edinbu Co-opted Mike Duriez (st.) David Gosling (h) Ted Happold Geoffrey Hasl. Pedro Guedes (st.) James Kackinnon (st.) Geoffrey Markham (s) Tom Markus (h) Shefficld Bath Hull AA Dundee RIBA Strathclyde Co-opted Co-opted SAC Executive Committee 1979-80 One student vacancy due to resignation of Janet Kieboc, Heriot Watt HELLMAN ‘Let’s make education laugh’. Cartooning on the spot. Ken Martin (h) Cho Padamsce (h) Mark Parsons (s) Liverpool Poly Hull Nottingham Manchester Univ. Oxford Plymouth (h) head, (st) staff, (st) student TED CULLINAY: ‘Draw it please’ Participate in continuous drawing with overhead projector. STUDENT/STAFF GROUPS — NATIONWIDE. Experimental concepts JOHN TOOMEY/AUTHUR DOOLEY. ‘Workers as Teachers!’ ducation at-:++--» Co-pted Alison Poulter (s) ’ =_ = mea eeaaa aeeewwrrare SAC FESTIVALOF EDUCATION. NOVEMBER 1979 All enquiries to Architectural Association, 34/36 Bedford London WC1. Telephone; 01 636 0974 PLACE: DATE: TIME: The School of Architecture, Arts Tower, Sheffield University. | Wednesday 28 November to Friday 30. i Welcoming ceremony of 45 mins. — 12 noon Wednesday. Prof. Gosling and student: welcome to the Sheffield school. Chairman of SAC: welcome to the movement. Ted Cullinan: RIBA Education Committee. NAM spokesman. Richard Rogers. Hellman: welcome with adrawing. LETTER FROM THE CHAIRMAN My election platform was quite specific. | emphasised the potential of the student body; My first job as Chairman was to present proposals for radical change in the repre- sentative structure — each school electing 1 head, 2 staff and 3 students; an equal power structure of learning and teaching. It was greeted with violent antagonism from some quarters, strong approval from others (including some heads) and other radical proposals to democratise the movement (again from some heads). The issue isalive, and itsdebate can bring SAC alive. SAC, the joint body of al 38 schools in the UK and Ireland, has been described by Prof. David Gosling of the Sheffield school, as cratic than the RIBA and ARCUK committees concerned with education — heads of schools, staff members and students. ..” The movement is barely eight years old — an infant compared to its 50 years old Ameri T the Asociation of Collegiate Schols of Archi (with which SAC now has strong links). It grew out of the former ‘Heads of Schools Group’, an adjunct of the RIBA. Its foundation was radical and its objective was independence; for many of its creators its ultimate goal was the control of archi- tectural education out of the hands of the RIBA and ARCUK, Their aspirations were right. SAC is a nationwile ‘community’, a gathering of nearly 10,000 people with the vast majority being students. Communities can only govern themselves, or else they become servile. But something went wrong with SAC. It became moribund, the majority of the community (students and staff) became bored, then indifferent, finally they forgot it. It was not difficult to see why. Each school has three delegates at the annual conference — the head, a staff member and a student. 38 students represent 8,000 students in the community; 38 heads represent themselves. It is absurd! “Let ustapthisenormousfountofenergy.|wouldmakeaconcerted drive to reach the mass body of students. Despite long and bitter experience in various forms of action and organisation, I am not cynical about the student body. On the contrary, I believe they represent a vitality and idealism which no one has ever tried to tap. Iwould have a similar optimism in the staff and heads, but let us start first with the students.” Ww a permanent SAC office at 10 Percy Street, London WC1. But the is the I hope you will ay of ACCOMMODATION: Through the generosity of the § of ‘put you up’ accom to make your own ments in the first instance, Please respond quickly if you odation list. Festival fee must be enclosed before you are considered. For accommodation contact: shefficld Students Union. Mark Parsons 112 Denison Street Beeston ottingham Tel: 0602 222494 FOOD: There will be no oficial catering, but it is expected that students wil set ‘food tables’ with cheap food for sale, Other arrangements may be made with ents and others, we be limited and you are urgently advised have a schedule And what for — what can SAC do? shetfield nov:28-30. 1979 PROGRAMME: Programme presented on arrival. The aim is flexibility and participation. Formal structure will be minimal. The concept is a market place of ideas in education. The opportunity is to tear down barriers, dissolve prejudice and expose worn- out cliches. Many ‘big names’ have been invited, but as participants, to be student or teacher whichever is appropriate at the time. Always the theme will be archi- tectural education. Listen to the famous on the subject. Do idols have feet of clay? Hear the unknown, Whose education is it anyway? Events will occur simultancously. | Fixed events will be few (if any). Move from one to the other. Take your pick or | just float. Time will not rule this festival, it will roll on. .some of us get our | second wind at midnight ...”Cedric Price. PARTICIPATION: The skeletal structure of the Festival exists; it is very strong. Now we want your participation. We want you to bring the market place ideas. Have you anexperiment, a presentation; a slide show; a play. Fill in the box below and send us details by 3 November (nothing considered after thatdate). Ultimately that is for us to decide as a community and before we do that we must organise, as democratically as possible. I believe we must organise our own education — to break the influence of the profession which presently controls us; whose education is it anyway? This we can do from the strength of our 10,000 strong community of brilliant teachers and brilliant students, but it will take organisation and long-term strategy. If we tap the potential of our own commu the ideas for SAC are legion, in this letter I offer but a few, The SAC Executive h already started to organise the sponsorship of an international lecturer to travel tie UK. SAC could sponsor students and staff to take time off to operate thus disseminating the knowledge we have in our community, We urgently body capable of experimenting with ideas not yet readily acceptable in soc SAC could fulfil that role. Whatever else SAC could become an ‘ideas INVITED PARTICIPANTS » Norman Foster, David Green (former Archigram), John Murray (NAM), architectural education. The ideas are you have them! ise! ate them and use Our principal role as a coi them for change ty is to u nan (NAM), Hans Harm (Einthoyen), Conrad Jamieson (scourge of s), Derek Walker, Walter Segal, Tom Wooley (Support), Anne Delaney, Alison Smithson, David Wilde (Big Red Diary), David Brock, Ron Weiner (‘Rape and plunder of Shankill’), Rod Hackney, Jane McDonald, lan Todd, Dr. Roland Gunter (Eisenheim), Hubert Puig (la Canard Suavage), Jim Johnson (Assist), Anatole COST: Students £5. All others £10. OAP’s and children under 14, free. Sheffield architectural students. Free. ies), Gordon Graham (ex President RIBA). There is postal address consider this office your ow particularly your ideas for SAC SAC FESTIVAL OF EDUCATION. NOVEMBER 1979 enquiries to Architectural Association, 34/36 Bedford Square, London WC1. Telephone; 01 636 0974 Festival and enclose the ers £10) cheques to’ SAC Dear Colleague, In April this year I was elected to the Chairmanship of the Schools of Architecture Council, the student delegates, with a little help from some staff and a few heads, made this possible. Thus an unbroken chain of heads chairing SAC was severed. 1am in office for two years and my Vice-Chairman isa student. come together! I/We wish to register Associa communication from Ihope to We wish to thank the RIBA student section for the financing and printing of thispamphlet. y, other schools, SALE OF LITERATURE perfect opportunity for students and others to publicise the ets, Magazines, posters and manifestos on architectural matters tthecountry. Sosetupastallandsellyourwritings tel, no, WHOSE EDUCATION IS IT ANYWAY? — A 3-DAY Festival of Architectural Education. Cedric Price. Rob Thompson. Percy Street Atelier and ARC. Id | |j } j | any tellman Thanks for? coming to the meeting om Monday night. I believe it was a further Success and produced additional ideas for the Festival. I know you appreciate the way I'm trying to develope the whole idea - to create participation amongst ourselves at each stage. This is already happening. Initially we brought in Cedric, Ted and John Toomey; from last Monday night we had added NAM and ARCYand, through Geoff Markham, the RIBA. I was only disappointed that Richard Rogers and Colin Ward didn't arrive. Hopefully there's normal reasons for their absence, but if not, I'd appreciate any help you can give in persuading them to get seriously involved. ¥¥¢ Schools of Architecture Council. Sheffield Festival. 1979. John Murray (NAN) Louis Hellman. Rob Thompson. (ARC) John MCKean (SAC) Geoffrey Markham (RIBA) copyte blerotry ad Pee Buda, ee tb I've already had positive response from some of the ‘invited participants’. Walter Segal is grateful to be included and, if back from Canada in November, Gane Will certainly be at Sheffield. David Green is enthusiastic and Gordon Graham told me personally that he'll definately be there. I'm confident that the majority of those on the list will be enthusiastic especially as we build up the atmosphere to the event. You know, of course, that that list is distinctly ad-hoc; any further 'names' you can persuade to attend (and pre-publicise their intentions) would be very welcome. Through Cedric, Ellis Hillman has already shown enthusiasm. I really am glad the press came. Feter Buchanan of AJ seemed particularly enthusiastic and I think it's vital that we keep him interested. Somehow or other between now and mid-November, the festival has to grow into an exciting possibility expanded from SAC. We need to get into published ideas, personal statements and quotations, letters to the press etc. Lou, could you think of a cartoon (or better still, a series of - like you did on CG) for AJ at the appropriate time? Can I confirm that you all agreed to produce your own bit of the programme and can we agree it should be designed to go into the ‘usual plastréc bag' or information pack. —7 “oriseadly, A4. Now that the academic year is about to start I shall begin to concentrate on the Sheffield end of things - the spaces (which I've already studied once in detail) the hardware, the participation of the Sheffield community etc. In addition I'll concentrate on the overall programme into which your details fit. I'll keep you informed. I trust we all agree that there must be a ...thing, cencept or question ... which holds the assembly together. Everyone I've spoken to says that the guestion already posed ‘WHOSE EDUCATION IS IT ANYWAY?", is that ‘anchor’. But firmed up - Cedric's comment ‘or was it just a question of style?" Then, of course, the formality (and the more I think of it, I see it must be very formal) of the SAC session, will direct the assembled energy to one or two fundamental questions. Thus the press can afterwards say that, not only was an incredible energy released in Sheffield, that now has to be converted into a power, but also that the Sheffield crowd made their views quite clear on a few basic issues. eee teSecuitinen Doane Gos Shafeld)- Kew Mowtur - There is the auestion of what further national publicity is needed. We could (with some confidence) leave it at that. Two things to finish off this brief note: A million thanks again for all your help. We have the pamphlet (10,000) which has SOME vagueness but which is not all that vague. Further pore it's vagueness is somewhat covered by the fact that it is deliberately stated thet the programme will be presented on arrival. Then there is the press which will add information to the pamphlet but still leaving a slight air of mystery. Finally there is the damned question itself - it couldn't be more blunt ‘Whose education etc'. With such interesting people already on the pamphlet I know I'd make it up to Sheffield if I was a student. PersonallyIdonotlikecompetitiontoomuch,butusedwitheee as help. Why don't we set up a schools (and others) poster competition for the Festival. The individual posters can be used in the schools and the whole 38 plus designs can be judged at the Festival. This is a minor example of partic- ipation working as it's happening. The press could advertise the competition. You will understand of course that a host of other ideas have already been S discussed and are ready to be put in hand - tours of Sheffield; the local Yorkshire media, the community groups and general public.....do we see any reason why we shouldn't invite the appropriate government departments? But some more,could be issued. The SAC Executive agreed that we should try to get each schod1 designing it's own poster, maybe pushing a bit more data or adding to the publicity by varied, unusual and high class graphics. During my lengthy tel. conversation with Walter Segal he made the point that I need to gather together people whd{ebmmitted to this Festival and who will be seen to be helping each other - from that our strength will come. i like to think that we are on the way to creating The second point is even more important. For me the key idea is participation from the community of architectural education. We can plan and organise to create variety and avoid chaos, but we will fail unless we remember that something has got to happen at Sheffield about which we will not know until it happens, For me that's what the first stage of participation is all about; if we miss out that stage then it's all phoney. that unity. Crp PRESS | Prop. Man Lippia (Conaip) gue I rt ‘WAiped pevyujpantt bas reSperfed $ Lrg Foal be Aelighfect to 60! 4 bd LLD-UPovis 0D FAR. LAY oF: HO |row bORM ae Ad a et gess 1 eR tact - MID-NOV _ Z Cote:| ag eve | eee CostesRUM BEScHADLS Zon . = j Cent By We.28:Ove: ieohes ——ad pve VIO | Cord | pits €45 Su Onef ae es t Coy $ AS | go" ee etieaee) Ea Vena’ wey @ =<eh«/ NW\ V ‘By Novi 3)5T Shock2 ink g Bod ' oraie, Tay Cur / Ceofer —_eee & To: Ted Cullinan Cedric Price bousis Hellman Yohn Toomey Richard Rogers Colin Ward John Murray Rob Thompson Geoffrey Markham John Maule McKean. ® Sincerely, : 34-36 Bedford Square London WCIB 3ES 01-636 0974 17 Sept: 79. SCHOOLS OF ARCHITECTURE COUNCIL. Festival of architectural education. ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE Chairman: Alvin Boyarsky. B.Arch (McGill).. M.R.P. (Cornell), MR ALC The School is run by the Architectural Association Incorporated, a company limited by guarantee and registered in England under No.171402. Its registered office address is as above. The AA (Inc) is also a registered charity under Section4 of the Charities Act 1960. I enclose the pamphlet - 10,000 of which will shortly be distributed throughout Britain and ireland. I look forward to seeing you at 6.Opm (not 6-30 as I originally stated) in Percy Street basement on Monday 24 Sept. for a wee drink and a talk. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Brian Anson Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived John Murray Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03 September 1979