FARNHAM will have a new status as a university town from September 1, as the University College for the Creative Arts relaunches as the UK's first creative arts university. The university title has been awarded to UCCA by the Privy Council, giving the institution new clout as far as recruitment is concerned and the prospect, eventually, of up to 600 extra students in the town. Making the announcement, the delighted Rector of the university, Professor Elaine Thomas, commented: "We underwent rigorous scrutiny as part of the process and it is wonderful to receive confirmation that we are operating as an authoritative and well respected institution of university standing." Praising the staff, both academic and support, who had worked towards the goal, she added: "It enhances the status of our subject for everyone in the world that believes in creativity," The move, she said, reflects the growing authority of creative arts subjects, and recognition of the value of the creative and cultural industries to society and the economy. The institution - the University for the Creative Arts as of September - has its roots date back to 1866 when Farnham School of Art was founded and is still referred to by many residents as "the art school". Although its largest campus is at Farnham, there are others at Canterbury, Epsom, Maidstone and Rochester following the 2005 merger aimed at securing the student numbers needed to seek university status. UCCA currently offers more than 80 courses and has 6,500 students, 2,500 of them at Farnham, and Prof Thomas revealed that the aim is to increase this figure to around 3,000. "We will start, within the next year, looking at our masterplan," she said, explaining that she envisaged building more facilities and teaching accommodation on the campus, by rationalising the existing car park and replacing some of the older student accommodation. More social and recreational facilities would also be needed. Prof Thomas expressed a hope that on the sporting side, for instance, there might be scope for shared facilities with the town. "We hope to bring people from around the world to Farnham. People from around the world love Farnham," she said. "We hope university status will improve on recruitment and the plan is to gradually increase student numbers over the next few years. "The title 'university' creates a platform for us to take off and really make our mark - to be ambitious and innovative and enhance our reputation and credibility globally and nationally." The focus will be on both the traditional and the innovative. The porfolio of courses is being reviewed at the moment, with the prospect of such additions as the production skills behind the performing arts. "Farnham is becoming more and more of a creative place," said Prof Thomas, mentioning particularly the Farnham Creates festival - a collaboration between Farnham Maltings, the Ashgate Gallery, UCCA and the Crafts Study Centre. "We have always been very very keen and want to do more to engage with the community and businesses to make sure we are a part of the community, and not just different. "There are still people who don't come just that little bit further past the Waitrose car park. We have nearly always got exhibitions in the James Hockey and Foyer galleries and the Craft Study Study Centre. "We want people to celebrate and be proud of having a university and also to feel it is theirs and come in and see what's going on."
