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Students and faculty at Eastern Michigan University’s School of Art and Design have been informed that the student-run Intermedia Gallery Group (IGG) could be taken out of their control, meaning there would be no more student exhibitions in the gallery space. In response, faculty are encouraging students to sign a petition against the closure. The IGG gallery has been a part of the School of Art and Design since 1972, and the petition attributes fewer recent exhibitions to pandemic restrictions and the loss of the student gallery director.
Eastern Michigan University’s Student-Run Gallery May Lose Student Control
Eastern Michigan University’s Intermedia Gallery Group (IGG), a student-run gallery in the School of Art and Design, could be removed from student control as of March 15. This could lead to the cessation of student exhibitions in the Student Center gallery space.
Faculty Mobilizing Against Closure
Faculty are urging students to sign a petition against the closure in Ford Hall 114 on March 19. Petition flyers are also being handed out in classes. A choice was made to collect physical signatures for the petition, as they are deemed to hold more weight than an online one, according to an email notification sent to art students.
Response from School of Art & Design
Director of the School of Art & Design, Sandra Murchison, was contacted for a statement, but no official response has been provided. Murchison stated that it would be premature to comment until the provost’s office has finalized their decision.
The IGG Gallery’s History and Challenges
Since 1972, the IGG gallery has been integral to the School of Art and Design. The petition suggests that COVID-19 restrictions and the loss of the student gallery director have resulted in fewer exhibitions.
IGG’s Petition
The petition states that the decision to repurpose the student-run IGG Gallery seems to have been made abruptly, without input from students, faculty, or the School’s Director. The students object to this action as the gallery has been a distinctive part of the Art programs since 1972, offering critical professional experiences for art students.
The petition emphasizes that having a dedicated venue for students to organize and install exhibitions is distinctive among art programs and provides invaluable experience. It acknowledges that the space has been underutilized recently due to the pandemic’s after-effects, a decrease in on-campus events, and the loss of the Gallery Director. However, the faculty and new Gallery Director are committed to supporting the gallery’s optimal use.
The students and faculty request reconsideration of the proposed closure to preserve the 52-year-old student-run IGG gallery. Updates on this story will continue to be provided.
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