Decision behind the removal of the piece, “Effects” [The Enthronement] from the Interim Show
Dear The Glasgow School of Art,
I hope this email finds you well.
I would like to request all correspondence, information or documents held by the GSA regarding the decision to remove the piece, “Effects” [The Enthronement], from the Interim Show held in May, as well as the grounds for its removal. As the piece was identified as inappropriate content, any information as to how this decision was arrived at would be greatly appreciated.
Yours faithfully,
Nik Williams
Scottish PEN, Policy Advisor
Dear Mr Williams,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request, which was received by the Glasgow School of Art on 9 May 2017.
We will respond to your request as soon as possible, and no later than 6 June 2017, pending any clarification we may need to seek from you.
Kind regards,
Virginia Toyi
Policy and Governance Officer
Glasgow School of Art | 167 Renfrew Street | Glasgow G3 6RQ
T: +44 (0)141 353 4429 (ext.4429)
E: [email address]
Dear Mr Williams,
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request, which was received by
the Glasgow School of Art on 9 May 2017.
Your request:
I would like to request all correspondence, information or documents held
by the GSA regarding the decision to remove the piece, “Effects” [The
Enthronement], from the Interim Show held in May, as well as the grounds
for its removal. As the piece was identified as inappropriate content, any
information as to how this decision was arrived at would be greatly
appreciated.
The Glasgow School of Art’s response to your request for information is :
-
The decision to remove the piece Effects” [The Enthronement], from the
Interim Show held in May, and the grounds for its removal was made at an
Senior Management Team meeting (SMT). Below is an extract of the minute
recorded at the SMT. This is the only information that GSA holds,
electronically or as hard copy. Please see minute below:
10. Student Issues
a) An MFA student is requesting to show a video of an execution (taken
from Youtube) as part of the MFA interim Show.
The group discussed the request and the potential implications of the work
for the student and the Glasgow School of Art. The group decided that this
particular film should not be shown and that the student be supported in
moving forward in terms of professional practice and understanding the
implications of their work including the presentation of online sources.
ACTION:
b) MFA student to be informed that their request to show the film has been
declined.
I hope you find this helpful.
Your right to seek a review: -
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Glasgow School of Art
has dealt with your request, you have the right to ask us to review our
actions and decisions. If you wish to request a review, please contact Mr
John Martin, Assistant Company Secretary, or email: [1][GSA request email]
within 40 working days. Your request must be in a recordable format
(letter, email, audio tape, etc.). You will receive a full response to
your request for review within 20 working days of its receipt. Please
quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have handled your request
for review, you have a right of appeal to the Commissioner. You can now
make an appeal online, using the new Commissioners online appeal service.
Please find the direct link to this service at
[2]www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal. The online appeal service is
available 24/7 and offers you real time help and advice about your
appeal.
The Commissioner recommends that you [3]appeal online. Other ways to
appeal include:
By email to: [4][email address]
By post to:
Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
KY16 9DS
Yours sincerely,
Virginia Toyi
Policy and Governance Officer
Glasgow School of Art | 167 Renfrew Street | Glasgow G3 6RQ
T: +44 (0)141 353 4429 (ext.4429)
E: [5][email address]
[6]cid:[email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[GSA request email]
2. http://sut1.co.uk/sLJ85vvXsn4Tubvajtvcoq....
3. http://www.itspublicknowledge.info/YourR...
4. mailto:[email address]
5. mailto:[email address]
Dear Virginia,
Thank you for the timely response to my FOI.
Further to the information I received can I ask for clarification as to the nature of how the artist was informed of the SMT's decision - if this was done via email or letter, would I be able to see the content of that exchange?
Can I confirm that the artist was not asked to present his work (and the significance of the inclusion of the video in question to the piece as a whole), alongside steps he may have taken to mitigate the distress that may be felt by potential gallery visitors to the SMT during their decision making process?
Further to this can I ask whether any documents or information exists as to the reasons behind the SMTs decision and whether there were any opposing points of view and whether any independent organisations, individuals or bodies were consulted to help the SMT come to this decision, including Police Scotland?
Your response includes this excerpt from the SMT meeting "the student be supported in moving forward in terms of professional practice and understanding the implications of their work including the presentation of online sources." - can you outline what support had been offered to the artist, what agreements had been made as a result of this support and what next steps have been established?
If I cannot receive answers to this, I may move to seek an internal review so any information you could supply would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards,
Yours sincerely,
Nik Williams
Dear Nik,
Thank you for your request for clarification regarding our response to your Freedom of Information request.
The response to your request from Glasgow School of Fine Art is as follows:
The communication of the decision by the SMT was discussed with the student, on two separate occasions. The MFA Programme Leader outlined the rationale and also the methods for considering the particular component of the installation.
In making the decision there were no opposing points of view in relation to the component of the work, in fact the programme team (staff working on the MFA) and also the SMT made the decision unanimously.
At this stage the SMT and MFA staff have not sought external advice, however as we move forward and the student progresses into their second year of study this will form part of the professional practice, within their programme of study.
As part of the ongoing learning process, it has been pointed out by the Programme Leader to the student, the support available and the team will work closely with them over the rest of their study and learning period.
The exhibition in question is the Interim MFA show; it is the mid-point in the students learning within the programme. It constitutes a valuable opportunity for reflection and discussion (between the students and staff) leading to planning for the forthcoming academic session.
I hope that you find this information helpful.
Your Right to a Review
As always, if you are dissatisfied with the way in which the Glasgow School of Art has dealt with your request, you have the right to ask us to review our actions and decisions. If you wish to request a review, please contact Mr John Martin, Assistant Company Secretary, or email within 40 working days. Your request must be in a recordable format (letter, email, audio tape, etc.). You will receive a full response to your request for review within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are dissatisfied with the way in which we have handled your request for review, you have a right of appeal to the Commissioner. You can now make an appeal online, using the new Commissioners online appeal service.
Kind regards,
Virginia
Virginia Toyi
Policy and Governance Officer
Glasgow School of Art | 167 Renfrew Street | Glasgow G3 6RQ
T: +44 (0)141 353 4429 (ext.4429)
E: [email address]
Dear The Glasgow School of Art,
Please pass this on to the person who conducts Freedom of Information reviews.
I am writing to request an internal review of The Glasgow School of Art's handling of my FOI request 'Decision behind the removal of the piece, “Effects” [The Enthronement] from the Interim Show'.
In my early FOI I requested all correspondence, information and documents related to the GSA's decision to remove the aforementioned piece of artwork from the Interim Show. However, to date I have only received excerpts that fail to give shape to the institutional decision made.
A full history of my FOI request and all correspondence is available on the Internet at this address: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/d...
Yours faithfully,
Nik Williams
Dear Mr Williams
This is to acknowledge receipt of your request for a review of the
handling of your FOI request regarding:
'Decision behind the removal of the piece, “Effects” [The Enthronement]
from the Interim Show'
I shall be in touch again on completion of the review.
John Martin
John Martin
Assistant Secretary to the Board
Glasgow School of Art
6 Rose Street (Room R302)
Glasgow
G3 6RF
(0141) 566 1434
[1][email address]
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
Dear Martin ,John,
I am emailing to request an update regarding the internal review I requested relating to the GSA's handling of the removal of the piece "Effects" [The Enthronement] from the Interim Show. I trust that an update or, alternatively the substance of the review will be made public in good time.
Yours sincerely,
Nik Williams
Mr Williams
The review is ongoing and we shall be in touch shortly.
Regards
John Martin
John Martin
Assistant Secretary to the Board
Glasgow School of Art
6 Rose Street (Room R302)
Glasgow
G3 6RF
(0141) 566 1434
[email address]
Dear Mr Williams
Please find attached in response to your request for an internal Freedom
of Information review, in relation to the FOI request, ‘Decision behind
the removal of the piece, “Effects”[The Enthronement] from the Interim
Show.
I hope this is helpful. Please contact me if you have any queries.
Kind regards
Janet Allison
Janet Allison I Deputy Registrar
Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew St, Glasgow, G3 6RQ
Phone +44 (0) 141 353 4462 I [email address]
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