Released: 30.09.08

UCP Marjon has been shortlisted for 2008 THE Awards in the category of Excellence and Innovation in the Arts.

UCP Marjon’s ARROW programme Art: A Resource for Reconciliation over the World (Arrow) is an initiative that seeks to develop the creative arts as a resource for peacebuilding. It has also inspired the creation of a new MA programme on the creative transformation of conflict through the arts. Arrow has established youth arts groups in the UK and abroad and organised theatre summer schools for young people in Plymouth, Burnley, South Africa and the West Bank. The new Desmond Tutu Centre on the UCP's Marjon campus will serve as a global focus for developing the arts as a resource for reconciliation. In the past year, Arrow has produced a one-man show that toured the UK and also went on to visit Freetown, Sierra Leone, and Bethlehem as part of the celebrations marking the repeal of the Slave Trade Act.

The Times Higher Education Awards, now in their fourth year, aim to recognise the ground-breaking work undertaken by UK higher education institutions. Categories include Best Student Experience, University of the Year, Outstanding Student Financial Support Package, Outstanding Contribution to the Local Community, Marketing Initiative of the Year and Outstanding Support for Disabled Students.

Ann Mroz, Editor, Times Higher Education, commented: “The Awards recognise the very best in higher education in the UK and we are delighted to announce that UCP Marjon has made it onto the shortlist for Excellence and Innovation in the Arts. Our senior advisory panel has been taken from all fields of academia and had to choose from hundreds of first-class entries – only the best made it through to our shortlist.”

David Oddie, ARROW Director, commented; “To be shortlisted for this prestigious award is an honour.  We are very proud of ARROW, which we believe to be unique in its field, and we think that the initiative helps promote Plymouth as a city that is making a difference on the global stage’.

Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony, held at Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London, on Thursday 23 October 2008. Last year more than 1,200 people from all parts of higher education gathered to celebrate the sector’s achievements.

To view the full shortlist pick up a copy of Times Higher Education, available in newsagents from Thursday 25 September.