New Dean Is A Champion Of Creative Industries
5 September 2007
What we have here is an opportunity for this Faculty to become the best in its field in the UK.
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Professor Huw Davies, currently Head of the School of Creative Industries at Napier University, takes up his new post in October.
The University of Derby has announced the arrival of a new Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology.
Professor Huw Davies, currently Head of the School of Creative Industries at Napier University, takes up his new post in October.
His first few weeks will be an exciting time as he meets Sir Richard Branson, Head of the Virgin Group, when he officially opens our new £21m Markeaton Street building on November 2.
Professor Davies said: "I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead and the official opening will be a very special occasion. The new Markeaton site is an impressive building."
Professor Davies knows Derby from his time here 20 years ago – and says it has changed so much in that time in many different ways, not least in its size and because of having secured University status in 1992.
He was a Photography Fellow and Artist in Residence at the then Derbyshire College of Higher Education, a post part-funded by the college and East Midlands Arts. Based at Kedleston Road, in 1986-87, his project focused on the development of industry in the city and culminated in an exhibition at Derby Museum and Art Gallery which then went on to tour the region.
Professor Davies’s role at Napier has involved managing a diverse School encompassing Lens Media, Digital Media, Design, Journalism, Publishing, Advertising, Cultural Studies, the Ian Tomlin School of Music, and the Screen Academy Scotland.
He says that one of his key aims in his new role at Derby will be to help the Faculty develop even stronger links with the creative industries in Derbyshire and beyond.
Professor Davies said: "What we have here is an opportunity for this Faculty to become the best in its field in the UK. There are established programmes in Derby, some of which have a formidable reputation for achievement.
"The creative industries are among the fastest growing areas in the economy and we have a fantastic new site where we can feed off one another’s ideas. This semester signals the start of a new era in Derby."
He has an MA in Graphic Design (Distinction) from Manchester Metropolitan University, and First Class Honours in BA (Hons) Photography and Film, from Nottingham Trent University.
After his time at Derby, he became a Lecturer in Photography at Solihull College (1987-88) and a Senior Lecturer in Photography at the University of Sunderland (1988-1994), before joining Napier University 13 years ago as a Reader in Photography and Imaging.
At Napier, Professor Davies then became Head of Department of Photography, Film and Television (1998-2000) and Head of School of Design and Media Arts, Napier University (2000-2006) before founding the new School of Creative Industries.
His research expertise is in the area of experimental and documentary film and photography, and research models for creative arts practice.
He has a range of broadcast credits across a number of television stations nationally and internationally, including the BBC and the Discovery Channel in the USA, and has had screenings in competitions at over 100 international film festivals since 2000.
Professor Davies, 49, has also been the Co-Artistic Director and Chair of Board, Berwick Film and Media Arts Festival, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland since 2004.
This exhibition, which celebrates the cream of film and video production, cinema and art, has developed an international reputation set in the heart of the historic town.
Professor Musa Mihsein, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Academic Development at the University of Derby, said: "Professor Davies has active research interests built around an established reputation as a creative practitioner.
"I believe that he is the ideal appointment to take over the Faculty of Arts, Design and Technology, from Professor David Manley in the Autumn."
Professor Manley has become our new Director of Cultural Development at the University.
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For more information about this news release, contact Simon Butt , Press and PR Officer, on 01332 591 891 or 07748 920023, or email: s.butt@derby.ac.uk
This press release was written by Deputy Head of Press and PR Simon Redfern on 01332 591942.
