Please see below some of the questions that were raised during the induction sessions.
We will collect more and update the list of questions regularly.
What can I do if I don’t have access to computer facilities or internet connection required to complete my studies? The university provides support in some cases and this link details who is eligible to apply, what is supported and how to apply for a computer loan/purchase and help towards internet cost.
https://enquire.ncl.ac.uk/student-it-support
How can I access and create a folder on One-Drive?
The Digital notebook should be saved on the university One-Drive. Find all Information of how to access the one-drive and how to create a folder are here.
https://services.ncl.ac.uk/itservice/teaching-services/o365/onedrive/
Simple instructions to access one drive:
- Login to OneDrive by signing into https://outlook.office365.com/mail/inbox
- Click on white squares top left corner (launcher icon)
- Select One Drive
- Create new folder by clicking on + icon in top menu /upload files etc.
Are students working remotely for the whole semester required to submit an absence form?
If you decide to work completely remotely for periods of more than a week complete an Absence Request Form (ARF) on S3P or via Nigel in the Fine Art office. ARFS should also be submitted if you decide to work completely remotely throughout the semester.https://s3p.ncl.ac.uk/login/index.aspx
Where can I find info about the forums – dates/speakers etc?
Please see https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/forums/
Will the Visiting Speaker Programme recorded?
Some of the programme might recorded, this however depends on the speakers.
Where can I find information about LifeWork Art workshop and will the event be recorded?
Information about LWA is available on the Community Board. Please note that it is necessary that you need to sign up for some of the events, and some events allow limited numbers of participants and are restricted to specific year groups.
Will the kilns be available?
Yes, the kilns will be available. Please contact Stephen. As we are in Tier 3 you cannot work in the kiln room at the moment but you can still contact Steve about picking up clay and firing stuff. There are also new ceramic video workshops available – please see Fine Art workshop section on the new Fine Art Community Board site https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/resources/.
Wil we be able to have access to photoshop from our own personal laptops if we can’t use the computers ?
Yes, the university will be supplying students with Adobe licences. This might take until first teaching week to be available.
Are there things in place to help students now that the media suite is no longer available e.g. adobe creative suite which we had over the lockdown period last year?
The university is providing Adobe licences for everyone . Keep an eye on your email as they will be in touch soon about this. Sorry with the delay with.
Will the Art Material shop be open?
Ray’s Shop – open from 9.30 – 4pm at the moment – he has a screen and the floor in from has social distancing tape marked. Ray also mentions that he can take orders and deliver if people are isolating. You can email him – raymondsydenham@hotmail.co.uk.
Darkroom: Will the darkroom be operating on a click and collect basis too? Dark room – see the info in the Covid Manual https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/covid19/. Please contact Jade or Erika directly to see what you need to use the darkroom.
Access to the department:
What entrance to the art department should we use when we are moving our studio work later today ?
You can use all the regular entrances except for the glass atrium. The ML is going to give you more detail on access. Please consult also the studio access timetable in the Covid Manual https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/covid19/
Can you explain how our smart or swipe cards work this year? Swipe cards work the same as usual but we will be targeting the access carefully. Your card will only work for the days and times your year have been allocated access. There are also exceptions to the rules – please see the Covid Manual for details https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/covid19/.
Does studio access start as timetabled from this coming Sunday 11th?
No, timetabled studio access starts from 19 Oct 2020 which is Week 1 of the teaching week.
Can our unspent money in the shop from last year be carried onto our allowance for this year?
Unspent money cannot be carried onto our allowance for this year – the budget does not carry over from one year to the next. It resets now.
Is the stuff we left in our last studio now in our new studios?
No, the idea is that you come in this afternoon in order to move your things from your studio you had last year to your new studio. We have packed everything up neatly but we could not move everyone’s work – not least because we did not have a name for everyone’s work.
Will the zoom link for the Q&A on Mondays be sent out each week?
We will use the same zoom link every week.
What happens if I can’t come in and collect my stuff as I’m isolating?
If you are not able to come in, please let your tutor now about it so we can make arrangements. Otherwise please ask a friend to move your belongings into the new studio space so that incoming students can use the studio space.
Will briefings be online or in-person?
Briefings in the coming weeks will be delivered remotely (online).
Studio spaces – is it like last year where we choose our own in that studio? Or are our names written in particular spaces already?
Because of the current situation Studio spaces are allocated and can’t be changed. The reason for having all 4 year groups in a studio space is to allow enough distance between workplaces in the studio.
What is the studio family thing on Thursday? Is that a zoom thing?
Studio ‘Family’ is just everyone- all years, who share your studio. A way of keeping in touch as you will not all be in on the same days. Studio families will start with a zoom meeting in the induction.
How do we click and collect from workshops?
Please see the Covid Manual for information https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/covid19/.
Below you will find the zoom address and passcodes for all the 3D workshops. The zoom roooms in these workshops are open from 9am- 1pm and 2pm-5pm Please drop in anytime you have a question for the technicians.
Metal workshop-
https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/6920358468 passcode Metalwork
Wood Workshop-
https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/2311370652?pwd=dWFZOU4xY3lyQWJWUHl3S1kvcTQ2QT09 (passcode) Woodwork
Casting Workshop
https://newcastleuniversity.zoom.us/j/4270671658 (passcode) Casting
When contacting the technicians about click & collect orders ( or to borrow tools) please start the email by stating which year you are in. This will make it easier for the technicians to know which days you are allowed in.
How would we go about swapping our studio space? If we’re unhappy with the studio we’ve got who do we need to talk to about it?
Honestly – there is very little chance of swapping spaces this year. Everything has been carefully organised in order to keep the social distancing and to limit the amount of different studio that staff have to go into. In this way we hope to be able to be able to put in damage limitations if anyone comes down with the virus.
Will we still be limited to 3 workshops per semester or will we be allowed to go to more given the circumstances?
A lot of new ‘workshops’ are now online – check out the Fine Art Community Board for the links to them. https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/resources/
Fine Art staff have been working over the summer to make a range of new video workshops about all kinds of things – ceramics, film, print, sculpture etc. You can view as many as you like. Once we are out of Tier 3 (no Face-to-Face teaching) we are also arranging some workshops to be run in the life room and ExLibris gallery . This will limit the number of participants to 5 at a time because of distancing rules. But if they are popular we will try and run them more than once. We are also organising some workshops -as Christian outlined – outdoors painting. I’m doing a rubbing workshop in a graveyard for example – check out the Drawing and Print Forum!
Will we still have our money to spend in the shop/workshops this year and will we have the remaining money from last year added to the account?
You will have the same money for materials as last year. Sorry but the budget does not carry from year to year so any unspent money from last year is no longer available.
If you have a previous commitment which means you can’t come to the Visiting Speaker Program who do we need to tell? Will visiting speaker talks be recorded?
If you cannot go to the Visiting Lecture programme – I think Uta – who is in charge this year is hoping to record them (this will be dependant on the agreement of the person delivering the talk however). Here is a link to the Visiting speaker programme 2020-21. https://research.ncl.ac.uk/fineartvisitingspeakers/. The first speaker is Rachel Maclean on 22.10.20. @ 5pm.
What is the Fine Art Community Board? [ https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/]
The Fine Art community board contains general department information of the kind that you would have usually seen on the noticeboards located in the Fine Art Foyer- regular community and Covid updates for the Department as well as information on taking part in elective activities like cross-year teaching, Practice Forums and workshops as well as Student Voice information.
What should I do if I experience Covid symptoms:
Please see following link with advice what to do and how to report any symptoms https://www.ncl.ac.uk/wellbeing/coronavirus-studentsupport/
What are the Forums
The forums are devised to continue cross-year teaching and discussions about shared disciplinary practice (Sculpture and Installation, Film and Performance, Print and Drawing and Painting).https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/forums/
What is the Fine Art Notice Board about?
The NEWCASTLE FINE ART NOTICE BOARD: https://fineartnoticeboard.wordpress.com/ is student-led and maintained by 3rd Year students (currently Lucy Heaton and Ella Burgess). Here you can post information on events you are organising or calls for collaborators etc. Please contact Lucy and Ella E-mail: newcastlefineartnoticeboard@gmail.com .
Can we access the money we have outside the department, as I plan to work at home as well as in the studio? You can order stuff from Ray and he says he will deliver , please check with Ray for details (raymondsydenham@hotmail.co.uk). You can also click and collect from the workshops (see info above or Covid Manual for details: https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/fineartcommunityboard/covid19/
Dos and don’ts of online sessions:
https://newcastle.sharepoint.com/hub/people-services/Pages/etiquette-guidance-online-learning-events.aspx