VCA 'no fees' campaign escalates
By Kylie Moon
MELBOURNE — On July 30, the Victorian Council of Arts voted 14 to 10 for the principle of up-front fees at all VCA schools by the year 2000. The decision followed recommendations from the Review Consultancy Team which is working out how VCA is to deal with a 12% federal budget cut. The VCA Board of Studies will decide on August 14 whether fees are implemented at VCA.
The close vote reflected the success of the campaign against the fees, which has focussed on informing and involving the majority of the 1200 VCA students, as well as gaining support from staff and the broader arts community.
On July 22, VCA graduates withdrew their work exhibited at the National Gallery and a student meeting on July 23 voted to take severe action if the VCA director did not reject up-front fees. A VCA National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) branch meeting on the same day voted unanimously against the fees.
At a July 27 public meeting, a motion was put that students attempt to occupy the VCA administration building. After students were blocked by security, they decided to set up a tent city on the lawn outside the building.
The tent city grew quickly in the lead up to the council meeting, with a marquee, banners, bands, a PA system, BBQs and artwork constantly being produced. The lawn was covered with tents, crosses representing the death of public education, signs and couches.
The white pillars of the administration building were wrapped in strips of red paper to look like candy canes, and drama students wrapped the director's car in red material.
People braved wet, freezing weather to stay overnight and organising meetings of 30 to 40 students were held each day.
More than 250 VCA students gathered at 8.30am on the day of the council meeting to express their message to council members as they arrived. Students formed a cordon, forcing council members to walk along the path, stepping around artwork.
In the meeting, the debate continued for hours, with well-known artists, staff and students arguing against fees. When the decision was made, the students tore up their agendas in disgust.
When the decision was announced to the 300-400 protesters outside, they carried out a pre-planned peaceful action to stop all council members from leaving the building. The council members escaped through a side door and the students then gathered to discuss the next steps for the campaign.
It was decided to encourage all classes to be held on the lawn. Many students expressed that the campaign has not ended until the decision to introduce fees is rescinded.
One student from the RMIT Bundoora campus pointed out that winning against up-front fees at VCA could be very significant for the national anti-fees campaign, potentially turning "a ripple into a wave".
The students have planned a large number of actions, including covering the VCA with "For sale" signs, banning the VCA director from all student exhibitions and plays, organising a "Rebel University", and a state-wide Save the Arts day to involve the many universities which are having (or may have) their arts and humanities faculties cut.
The following day, the Dance School decided to hold all of its classes on the lawn.
To contact the VCA campaign, phone 9682 1123.