LOUISE WILSON & DAVID KAPPO IN LOVE

‘If fashion was moving to more space, that would be Ok,’ says Wilson. ‘If it was moving to the same amount of space, that would be bearable. But to be moving to less space? Well that’s inexplicable.’ PROF LOUISE WILSON OBE Course Director MA Fashion
Kappo loves the place. ‘You think It’s a shitty old rundown building, freezing cold, with windows that don’t close properly, noise and dust, whatever. But no one is precious about this place. And because you’re not precious about it, you use it. The students are really good at improvising with the space – they’ll be hanging paper dressed from the ceiling, or drawing on the wall. No one moans at you if you paint the walls or stand on tables. The building allows us to do whatever we want to do. There’s something really special about the place; I love seeing how students use the building. '
DAVID KAPPO Course Director Postgraduate Diploma in Fashion

Quotes from :
107 Charing Cross Road - LOVE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 SS2009

Text Murray Healy
Photography David Sims



'In a ramshackle building on the edge of Soho, the Fashion Department of Central St Martins College of Art and Design has nurtured generations of world-beating designers. But how much will change when the college moves to its shiny new Kings Cross campus in 2011?

READ THE REST OF THE ARTICLE IN THE FIRST COMMENT POSTED BELOW BY SAINT MARTIN

MILK THE CASH COW / COOL BRANDS

COOL BRANDS

When Superbrands (UK) Ltd. published its official list of Britain’s coolest brands 2007/08.

Top five from the experts are:

So Now We know Central Saint Martins is officially a brand cooler than The University Of The Arts, a cash cow with a higher profile than the University it was amalgamated into. No doubt the high profile of the Fashion Department and its distinguished alumni and reputation for inventive, exploratory, creative teaching practices have all been in part responsible for this position of eminence and prominence. A position which the University Of The Arts has chosen to exploit in its quest to grow while at the same time ignoring the people who are responsible for and do the work to gain this reputation; the staff, students and alumni.

The proposed relocation to Kings Cross was decided upon without canvasing the staff and students of Central St Martins Charing Cross Road and asking why these courses work and why Charing Cross Road works for them.

University of The Arts do you really know your product???

MILK THE CASH COW

KINGS CROSS LOOKS LIKE A GREAT BIG MARKETING PUSH AND REBRANDING EFFORT TO SELL MORE COURSES ACROSS THE COLLEGE

With 25% smaller space for Fashion at the new Campus at KingsCross, what are the real benefits for the college, the staff, the students. Do we really believe they will cut recruitment levels as 'they' currently say they will.

Or is it a move to put Fashion under the same roof as other less high profile courses to make the brand CSM a whole lot more saleable.

LINKS
http://kulturfabric.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/the-art-school-brand/
http://www.coolbrands.uk.com/

YELLOW TAPE/RED TAPE

WHO OWNS THE YELLOW TAPE???

Students have been interrogated about their involvement in this poster campaign in Charing Cross Road last week 13.02.09. Yellow tape has been removed from the crime scene and tested for DNA and fingerprints. Dawn raids took place across print, womenswear and marketing but due to lack of evidence no one was detained.

STAND UP FOR FREE SPEECH

REJECT THE RED TAPE OF BUREAUCRACY AND EMBRACE THE YELLOW

SHOW YOUR SOLIDARITY for THE CHARING CROSS 109

and WEAR YOUR YELLOW TAPE WITH PRIDE

OPEN COMMENTS FORUM

GET CREATIVE - USE THIS POST TO EXPRESS YOURSELF

LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS, THOUGHTS, CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED MOVE TO KINGS CROSS

DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE BEEN KEPT INFORMED ABOUT THE LOSS OF CHARING CROSS ?

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS EMPLOYED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS ?

DO YOU WANT TO MOVE ?

DOES THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS HAVE THE PURSUIT OF CREATIVE EXCELLENCE AND EXPLORATORY LEARNING AT THE TOP OF ITS AGENDA ?

OR IS IT ALL ABOUT MONEY ?

CSM - ART SCHOOL OR BUSINESS ?

GET ONLINE
GET MOBILISED
MAKE THE TSHIRT

FACEBOOK GROUP - WE LOVE CENTRAL ST MARTINS CHARING CROSS ROAD

FACEBOOK GROUP FOR CSM STAFF, STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS

WE LOVE CENTRAL ST MARTINS CHARING CROSS ROAD
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56485082563&ref=mf



A Group for students, staff, alumni and interested parties to voice their concerns over the abandonment of the art college's much loved and historical home on Charing Cross Road in favour of the New Build/Smaller Space* Kings Cross development.

* The Fashion School which includes the BA, Postgrad and MA, is being offered 25% less studio space in the new Kings Cross development than it currently has at Charing Cross Road. (This figure was originally 65% less!!!) Information provided by Willie Walters Course Director BA Fashion at CSM.

Central Saint Martins remains one of London's most revered art and design institutions, producing some of the most important artists, designers and performers over the last 150 years.

Famous Alumni include Peter Blake, Gilbert and George, Jarvis Cocker, PJ Harvey, Pierce Brosnan, John Hurt, Terence Conran, Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Stella McCartney, Gareth Pugh...and many many more!!

In addition the Charing Cross Road building has earned its place in POP Culture history as the site of the first ever Sex Pistols GIG on 6 November 1975, and in PULP'S classic COMMON PEOPLE 'She studied Sculpture at St Martins College'..on CXR in Fine Art of course.

We must ensure that the college's association with cutting edge creative culture goes on by continuing to attract high caliber students, who come as much to follow in the footsteps of those who have both inspired them and whom they admire, to work within the hallowed walls, and to experience the spirit and the teaching of the college which it has become famous for, while exploring and developing their own creative skills and processes.

The teaching staff are the constant throughout and are responsible for keeping this spirit alive as students progress through their courses, graduate, move on, and the new ones arrive.

What effect then will a move of this scale have, when teaching staff on every level are unsure of what there is to gain from the relocation, and ultimately, if they did have a choice, and based on what they know at the moment, would not leave Charing Cross Road.

Can the spirit and soul of CSM at Charing Cross Road survive this relocation without the 100% belief and commitment of the staff and students.

25% less floorspace for Fashion in Kings Cross, where's the benefit in that.

I have not had the opportunity to speak to anyone in Fine Art. Please get in touch with any relevant information and voice your opinions here.



Read more about Central St Martins here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Saint_Martins_College_of_Art_and_Design

LOFTS FOR TOFFS

IS THE LEGACY OF CSM'S HISTORIC BUILDINGS ON CHARING CROSS ROAD LOFT STYLE LIVING FOR THE BOURGEOISE

read this article from the Evening Standard

http://es.homesandproperty.co.uk/soho.html

Soho's on the property game

'Sexy Soho is cleaning up its act as the colleges move out and home-owners move into glamorous conversions, says David Spittles

Few, if any, districts of London have as much colour and vitality as Soho. But as a place to live would it be as appealing?

Over the years the attraction of this central London location has been diminished by the very obvious seedy sex trade and threatening atmosphere. For some it is this edgy atmosphere they find exciting. But they have always been in the minority.

Now, after decades of population decline, the area is finding new residents. But the real influx will arrive when Central St Martins College of Art and Design moves out.

Central St Martins College of Art and Design is being moved to a new university campus at King's Cross, freeing up its former buildings.

The college is a much-loved creative presence in Soho, which remains the main hub for the film and advertising industry.

Former college alumni include fashion designers Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney and John Galliano.

A mixed development of live/work studios, offices and homes is proposed for the Charing Cross Road building, which has big factory-style windows — perfect for loft apartments — above an Art Deco entrance.

Legendary

It was here that Punk legends the Sex Pistols played their debut gig in 1975.

Another site at Southampton Row includes the listed Lethaby Building, which in 1908 was the UK's first purpose-built art school.

Lethaby Building - a listed Edwardian building in Southampton Row - is part of the Central St Martins College of Art and Design and is earmarked for development.."

Since this article appeared Southampton Row, purpose built historic art college and beautiful building has been sold.

Can the University Of The Arts please tell Central St Martins what decision making methodology was in place when these relocation decisions were made.

Can the University Of The Arts tell Central St Martins how much money has been made in the sale of Southhampton Row and how much money will be made in the proposed sale of Charing Cross Road and all other sites.

The University Of The Arts has decided what the future of Central St Martins will be.

Did Central St Martins have a say ??

THE DEMISE OF CSM

CentralSaintMartins (CSM) - ARTSCHOOL OR BUSINESS

READ THIS BLOG by CSM Fine Art Student Maisy

http://centralstmartins.blogspot.com/

By 2010 Central Saint Martins will be re-located to a brand new site in King's Cross.

Saint Martins School of Art (founded in 1896) has existed in its current location on Charing Cross Road since 1913. It is amongst the oldest art college in London with many famous alumni. The site at Charing Cross Road is bustling with creative energy in the heart of the city, with the rich wealth of Soho, museums and art galleries right on its doorstep.

Apart from its excellent central location, the buildings of Charing Cross rd and Southampton Row have so much inspiring history and character to work with.
I am rather dismayed that it will move to King's Cross to an enormous institutional-style building. In my eyes, by moving the college would lose the only thing it has managed to keep hold of since becoming swallowed up into the university of the arts.

The college moving is the final straw in the art college losing its identity and becoming engulfed in the commercial university system.

READ THIS BLOG by CSM Fine Art Student Rose

http://central-saint-martins.blogspot.com/

Hello, my name is Rose and I am a current 3rd year Fine Art Student at Saint Martins. As you may or may not be aware by 2010 the whole of Central Saint Martins bar Byam Shaw School of Art will be moving to a brand new site in King's Cross.
Saint Martins School of Art (founded in 1986) has existed in its current location on Charing Cross Road since 1913. It is amongst the oldest art college in London and the list of famous alumni is endless. The site at Charing Cross Road has played host to many famous events.
Central Saint Martins has become the main focus of my final year work. I am interested in producing work in response to the site move in 2010 but I want to hear other people's views.
If you are a St Martins student past or present I would love to hear from you. Any stories you have and would like to share, particularly memories from Charing Cross Road, post them up here. Could be anything from your experiences at the college to how you feel about the site move.

Rose