In the case of art becoming activism Faculty of Arts

In the next five years, the Faculty of Arts and Design will focus on art as a powerful currency to address societal challenges. As Executive Dean, Prof Nalini Moodley outlined this vision for the Faculty during a staff engagement. 

“We are facing innumerable challenges today, and artivism is a portmanteau of art and activism based on creativity, responsible citizenship, and social awareness. 

As a professor, Moodley acknowledged that art is the consciousness of society and encouraged her students to think deeply about how their creative expressions can be incorporated into activism in order to have a greater impact.

Professor Moodley stated in a presentation entitled Looking Back, Looking Forward that while the Faculty is the smallest of TUT’s seven faculties, it packs a punch! While acknowledging the challenges, she highlighted the team’s achievements.

applications in 2023

Over 17 000 applications were received by the Faculty this year, all first choices. We were only able to select 507 of these applicants.

The Faculty’s graduates, despite entering a field as challenging as the arts, find employment within one to five months of graduation, according to a recent survey. Faculty of Arts

During the last five years, Prof Moodley cited several accomplishments that reflect the University’s strategic priorities in its quest to move from good to great.

Among these improvements is the construction of a fully functional Health and Wellness Center as well as the construction of a perimeter wall and upgraded entrance.

Faculty of Arts

The university conferred

The university has also conferred eight honorary doctorates, renamed two buildings, established a Gender-based Violence Desk (a first), showcased research, launched a TUT art collection, opened a Creative Box, developed digital advances such as a Tech Lab, and hosted four successful arts festivals in order to produce graduates who are ready to compete in this highly competitive industry. Faculty of Arts

Prof Moodley envisioned this as one of her dreams when she became vice chancellor five years ago, and it has proven to be an invaluable marketing opportunity for students, parents, industry, stakeholders, donors, and principals.

As part of plans for the festival to grow into a national university arts festival, Prof Moodley announced that an agreement has been signed with the Technological Higher Education Network South Africa (THENSA).  Faculty of Arts

“There are still many dreams to be realized and unlimited potential for growth,” she said. 

The Faculty is always proud of its accomplishments, but it also faces many challenges that keep it grounded. In particular, improving master’s and doctoral graduation rates are key objectives.

From 2018 to 2022, the Faculty’s research output nearly tripled.

staff and students

Faculty staff and students are establishing a Research Hub for research and innovation. With the former, the student will receive mentoring, editing, peer review support, journal and conference identification, and support for creative output submissions, while with the latter, he or she will receive research methods, monitoring, and mentoring, among other things.

Furthermore, the Breytenbach Theater will be optimized as a resource for third-stream income, the Centre for Creative Industries will be strengthened, and an online art gallery will be established. Employee exhibitions will be held and vice-chancellor’s concert will be held at the Breytenbach Theatre.  Faculty of Arts

It would also be beneficial to take advantage of the intellectual capacity of honorary doctors and expose students to these giants, according to Prof Moodley.

In The Dean thanked her staff for their role in advancing the Faculty: “We enjoy passionate, expert professionals on staff, along with a talented student pool.”

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