The petition
You may or may not be aware of the Durham Project, which will include major strategic developments within the University. As part of these plans, the Law Department and Library are having built new facilities on the science site; a great acquisition for their particular needs. As a result, Palace Green Library would be converted into a World Heritage Site Visitor’s Centre.
But how many of us know that as an afterthought and direct consequence, the music library of books, scores, listening and audio materials, will potentially also be relocated to an extension of the main library, away from the rest of the facilities? Is it not ironic we cannot afford to fund our own Library due to our financial deficit, which has been caused by years of severe under-funding from the University itself?
If this goes ahead, it will have disastrous effects on a department which needs all parts of its varied discipline integrated in one location, Palace Green; the heart of the University since 1832. Our objections to the plans are as follows:
1. Department’s reputation and recruitment will be greatly affected, particularly in line with both UK and international competition.
2. Practicalities and recent investment: our Department invested heavily (as part of our Centre for Excellence in Teaching and Learning) in audio and visual facilities. It is essential that these facilities and resouces remain in one location.
3. Performance Considerations: Performance material (scores, recordings, etc.) must be in close proximity to the performance and rehearsal space around Palace Green.
4. Scholarships for Top Students who excel in music, among other subjects, have just been introduced at a time when they propose to divide the department.
5. Historical Importance in regards to the hub of the University and the Cathedral on Palace Green. Business-style rationalisation is being put above teaching and learning.
6. Music’s role as the only performing arts discipline which needs strengthening, not weakening.
7. The importance of its cultural outreach, not only to the ‘paying customer’s’ of the University, its Music Societies, as well as the wider community.
8. Disastrous effects on the Department and a whole change of ethos when in the long term, Durham turns into a heartless campus University.
The aim of our campaign is to protest against the ‘discussions’ being had to relocate the Music Library from Palace Green.
As far as Music is concerned, there can be no possible good outcome from these proposed plans, only a weaker Department and eventually, a campus based University. I don’t know about you, but particularly to a musician, Palace Green and its connections to the University is what makes Durham special. Please help us save this for future generations.
Any comments or suggestions to our objections, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me at the email address below:
p.c.walters@durham.ac.uk
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