The School of Games & Creative Technology at UCA, Farnham, is delighted to be hosting a one-day conference on Friday 18 July 2025, exploring the role of concept art and character design in the culture industries.

This event aims to explore approaches to understanding concept art and character design drawing from multiple critical and creative perspectives. From avatars to animated characters, theme park rides to fast food mascots, these practices combine multiple strands of culture and design. Academics and practitioners are invited to submit proposals for presentations considering the industrial, artistic and political dimensions of these significant features of the contemporary culture industries.

Please send 200-word abstracts for 20-minute presentations, accompanied by 50-word bios, by Wednesday 30 April 2025 to: ewankirkland@uca.ac.uk

Please refer to https://cacd2025.edublogs.org/ for further details.

This years Teaching and Learning Conference theme explores Innovative Practices in Creative Education.

Our keynote speaker is Professor Susan Orr she is the Pro Vice Chancellor Education and Equalities at De Montfort University (DMU). Susan is a Professor of Creative Practice Pedagogy and her research centres on studio-based pedagogy in art and design. With Alison Shreeve she co-authored the book ‘Art and Design Pedagogy in Higher Education: knowledge, values and ambiguity’.
We are working on the specifics of the conference currently. More details to follow soon.

For further details, please visit:

https://creativeeducation.uca.ac.uk/the-creative-education-conference

The State of Play: the serious business of messing about

Professor Sophy Smith

14 May 2025

UCA’s Professorial Lectures showcase and celebrate the achievements of our professors who are undertaking research and scholarship of international significance, as well as a networking opportunity for staff from across our university and the wider academic world.

Professor Sophy Smith is Executive Dean for UCA’s Farnham School for Creative and Cultural Arts.

This will be a hybrid session, with attendees able to attend either in-person or online. 

Time: 3:30-4:30pm

Location: UCA Farnham Campus, W02 (lecture theatre)

Drinks reception: 4:30-5:00pm