The award, which recognises the collaborative and interdisciplinary work that is taking place in universities to promote the arts, sees Anglia Ruskin shortlisted alongside Queen Mary University of London, De Montfort University, Edge Hill University, Northumbria University and University of Salford.
The MA in Children’s Book Illustration at Anglia Ruskin was the first such specialist programme in the country when it began in 2001. It has rapidly grown in both size and reputation, and now attracts students from all over the world. Currently there are students from 27 countries, including the United States, Japan, Russia and Mexico enrolled on the course.
“We have played a major role in the growth of interest in children’s book illustration as an art form, both in the UK and internationally,” said Martin Salisbury, Professor of Illustration and Course Leader for the MA in Children’s Book Illustration (pictured).
“We have also, through the accumulated international sales of books by students, graduates and staff, had a significant impact on the children’s publishing industry.
“The course received Arts & Humanities Research Council block grant funding for scholarships for students on the MA and also for PhDs in children’s book illustration, recognising the stature of the course and its research centre, the Centre for Children’s Book Studies.
“The last 12 months has been a spectacular period of success for the course, in terms of excellence and innovation. The course has a formal partnership with Walker Books but has close ties with many other publishers in the UK and overseas. This year the course took a stand at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair and this led to publishing contracts for 10 of those represented.
“Irene Dickson-Bulleid’s success in June was the third consecutive year that one of our students has won the prestigious Macmillan Prize for Children’s Picturebook Illustration, while two of our graduates, Nadia Shireen and Marta Altés, featured in the shortlist of six for the Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year Award.”
The Times Higher Education Awards, which celebrate the best in Higher Education in the UK, will be held at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane, London, on Thursday, 29 November.
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For more press information please contact:
Jon Green on t: 0845 196 4717, e: jon.green@anglia.ac.uk
Andrea Hilliard on t: 0845 196 4727, e: andrea.hilliard@anglia.ac.uk
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