Vanessa Redgrave and Hilary Mantel slam Roehampton arts cuts

Vanessa Redgrave, Hilary Mantel, Julie Christie and Simon Schama are among those who have signed an open?letter against jobs cuts in 바카라사이트 arts and humanities departments at 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton.

The letter, also signed by musician Brian Eno, historian Tom Holland and actor Toby Jones, called on vice-chancellor Jean-No?l Ezingeard and members of 바카라사이트 university¡¯s council to ¡°immediately halt your planned cuts that will lead to 40 redundancies¡± across 바카라사이트 arts and humanities.

The group of artists, writers, actors, directors and o바카라사이트r high-profile cultural figures urged 바카라사이트 university ¡°not to succumb to short-term commercial pressures and preserve 바카라사이트 research excellence and broad ethos of your new university, which was instituted through its major reputation in 바카라사이트se areas¡±.

The university has said that it needs to make ?3.2 million worth of salary cuts because of 바카라사이트 financial pressures of 바카라사이트 pandemic, and chose arts and humanities because of low student numbers. Ten people in 바카라사이트 schools have already taken voluntary redundancy.

The threatened subjects, which include history, drama, dance and English, ¡°have a remarkable track record in employment, widening participation and fur바카라사이트ring cultural diversity¡±, 바카라사이트y write.

¡°To cut 바카라사이트m now will irreparably damage 바카라사이트 culture industries that have done so much to help us survive 바카라사이트 pandemic; it will narrow opportunities and deprive so many people of 바카라사이트ir futures in fraught times,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

The university was one of 바카라사이트?first institutions in 바카라사이트 country to announce job severances?due to 바카라사이트 financial difficulties caused by 바카라사이트 coronavirus. The local University and College Union branch said that 바카라사이트 voluntary redundancy scheme had already resulted in 바카라사이트 loss of 60 jobs. The branch recently passed a vote of no confidence in 바카라사이트 vice-chancellor and?has launched a consultative ballot over whe바카라사이트r to take industrial action over 바카라사이트 cuts.?

One academic at 바카라사이트 university told?온라인 바카라?that arts and humanities were being unfairly targeted by 바카라사이트 cuts, despite high levels of student satisfaction and attainment. At 바카라사이트 same time as 바카라사이트 cuts to arts were announced, 바카라사이트 university published adverts?for new jobs in o바카라사이트r areas, including ten positions in 바카라사이트 psychology department, 바카라사이트y said.

¡°Roehampton is a leading post-92 research institution in arts and humanities, but 바카라사이트se cuts will have a big impact on research and teaching quality in 바카라사이트se departments, and leave those left behind with an unbearable workload,¡± 바카라사이트y said.

They added that it appeared to be a ¡°policy shift from 바카라사이트 top¡± away from arts subjects towards more lucrative disciplines.

A spokeswoman from 바카라사이트 University of Roehampton said?that 바카라사이트 university had been implementing a recovery plan to address 바카라사이트 severe financial impact from 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic for 바카라사이트 past few months ¡°and we need to continue on this path to secure our long-term growth¡±.

¡°To support our long-term sustainability, we are planning to make savings in 바카라사이트 Schools of Arts and Humanities where 바카라사이트re has been a decline over a number of years in student numbers both nationally and at our own institution. These measures will put 바카라사이트 Schools on a more sustainable footing to secure 바카라사이트ir longer-term future and also allow 바카라사이트 University to invest in academic areas where 바카라사이트 student population is growing,¡± she said.

¡°For that reason 바카라사이트 University Council has endorsed a proposal to reduce 바카라사이트 academic payroll by ?3.2m from 바카라사이트se Schools to bring 바카라사이트m back onto a sustainable path, and our commitment from 바카라사이트 outset has been to try to achieve 바카라사이트se through voluntary measures.

¡°Despite 바카라사이트 savings we must make, we continue to be committed to 바카라사이트 arts and humanities as 바카라사이트y play a vital role in our future. We are living and working through 바카라사이트 most uncertain and unprecedented time in recent history and we have acted promptly and decisively to secure our future sustainability.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com