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Acclaimed Brighton artist backs Adult Learners' Week
11 May 2009
Romany Mark Bruce, the acclaimed Brighton sculptor and painter, has spoken of his support for this year's Adult Learners' Week, an annual week-long national campaign held each May. It aims to inspire adults to pursue learning opportunities whether it's catching up on skills not learnt at school, learning for work, learning at work, or learning for fun. Romany attended sculpture evening classes at the Connaught Centre, City College Brighton and Hove's Adult & Community Learning campus, for seven years during the 1990's. In September 2007, he was selected by public ballot to sculpt the centrepiece of a memorial to those who have died and those whose lives have been affected by HIV and AIDS. The sculpture is expected to be completed later this year. Romany says:
'Through getting into adult learning, I was able to give up working full time as a lawyer and was able to make a living through my art. I've been lucky enough to work for Woolley Beavis Diplock who allow me flexibility which has enabled me to have time to focus on my creative work. If I hadn't done evening classes, I wouldn't be able to enjoy the quality of life that I do now. While working on the AIDS memorial sculpture, I've realised how much my sculpture tutor Teresa Martin taught me because I'm constantly looking at and assessing the sculpture with the creative insight she gave me which was very important and got me to where I am now as an artist.'
Romany Mark Bruce
'Anything that encourages people to think about adult learning is beneficial. A lot of people go through life meaning to learn new skills but never get round to it so hopefully Adult Learners' Week will prompt them to do so.'
Heather Shaw, City College's Adult & Community Learning Manager, says:
'Romany is a fantastic role model for adult learners and exemplifies the benefits of lifelong learning. It's really heartening that despite the current economic down-turn, adult learning has never been more popular. Here at City College, enrolments on Adult & Community Learning courses have increased by nearly 1,500 during this current academic year which represents an increase of 30%. I think this illustrates that a positive attitude to adult learning in Brighton and Hove is spreading and long may that continue!'
For more information on Adult & Community Learning at City College, call 01273 667744
For media enquiries, please call Brian Bell, Marketing Communications Officer, on 01273 667788 Ext. 488 or email bb1@ccb.ac.uk website www.ccb.ac.uk
About City College Brighton and Hove: Situated in the heart of Brighton, City College Brighton and Hove has become an international centre of vocational excellence. Every year 2,000 full-time, 10,000 part time, over 500 Higher Education and 250 14-16 year old students as well as many international and European students choose City College as their place of further and higher education training. In addition, the College provides training to over 2,000 businesses via its 'City Business Skills' department which focuses on employer training needs. Offering over 700 courses from basic level right through to business and postgraduate training, City College is working with its partners to develop the workforce of the future.
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