Identity elements
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Name and location of repository
Level of description
Title
Date(s)
- 1978-2003 (Creation)
Extent
7.5 linear feet (12 boxes)
Name of creator
Administrative history
Art Center (Europe) opened in the fall of 1986 with 39 students from 13 countries. It offered a preparatory program, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Communication Design, and a Bachelor of Science in Product Design and Transportation Design. The school closed just before its tenth anniversary in March 1996. During the 10 years of its operation, more than 500 students graduated from the European campus
Chronology: [Compiled from “History and Highlights” in Series 9 – Public Relations]
1981-1983 At the initiative of European industry and business, Art Center began researching the feasibility of establishing a European campus. The Château de Sully at La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland was selected as the future home of Art Center (Europe).
1984 Interim offices established in nearby Vevey, Switzerland.
1985 December David Brown appointed third President of Art Center.
1986 Senior Vice President of Art Center, Joseph R. Henry, appointed Director of Art Center (Europe). Initial ten-year lease signed on the Château de Sully. A Committee of Advisors established to advise on the educational program.
1986 October 6 Art Center (Europe) opened its doors to the first 39 students from 13 countries. Uwe Bahnsen, Vice President of design at Ford of Europe, is appointed Education Director.
1987 Completion of farm building with studios and workshop. The first Transportation Design workshop held at the Geneva International Motor Show and becomes an annual event. First scholarships awarded to three students from new Scholarship Fund.
1988 Publication of three brochures View, Involvement and Catalog aimed at promoting Art Center (Europe).
1989 Accreditation granted by Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD).
1989 August 12 First graduation held with guest speaker Camillo Pagano, Executive Vice President of Nestle.
1990 Joseph R. Henry retires. Uwe Bahnsen appointed Director.
1991 New photography studio and Graphic Production laboratory opened.
1992 First Art Center (Europe) Alumni Reunion.
1994 Art Center (Europe) and Art Center joint Alumni Reunion held at the American Centre in Paris.
1995 Uwe Bahnsen retires. John Littlewood, former Advertising Department Chair at Art Center, appointed Director. An aggressive fundraising and recruitment campaign is put into operation.
1996 March Art Center and the Board of Trustees announce withdrawal of all fiscal support of Art Center (Europe), forcing the school to close its doors at the end of the spring term.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Art Center (Europe) collection documents campus administration and student activities throughout the school’s ten year history. The bulk of the collection is correspondence and administrative files which document the creation, operation and closure of the school. The Accreditation files in Series 1 are the reports related to accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Administrative Files in Series 2 also contain files on establishing a European campus. Series 3 includes general information about Admissions, including the course catalogs. The few files in the Alumni series list the school's graduates and track their employment. The remodeling and construction phase of the school is well documented in the Buildings/Facilities files in Series 5. The chronological files in Series 6 include correspondence, reports, memos, and clippings regarding classes, students, and recruiting. The files in Series 7 consist mainly of ephemera related to graduation ceremonies. Series 8 contains various materials printed by the school including brochures and letterhead. Public Relations materials in Series 9 document Art Center (Europe)’s media presence through the clippings and media summaries. The five Publications in Series 10 were published by Art Center (Europe) and contain news, profiles and updates on the school and its students. Series 11 houses 14 student-designed t-shirts that were made for graduations and conferences.
This collection is an amalgamation of materials created by staff and faculty at both Art Center and Art Center (Europe). The files from Art Center (Europe) were sent to Art Center after the closure of the school.
System of arrangement
Series 1: Accreditation
Series 2: Administrative Files
Series 3: Admissions
Series 4: Alumni
Series 5: Buildings/Facilities
Series 6: Correspondence
Series 7: Graduation
Series 8: Printed Materials
Series 9: Public Relations
Series 10: Publications
Series 11: T-Shirts
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Conditions governing reproduction
Copyright held by Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)
Digital materials and catalog records are made available for educational and research purposes only and cannot be reproduced, distributed, or published without written permission from Art Center College of Design.
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Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bahnsen, Uwe (Subject)
- Brown, David R. (Subject)
- Henry, Joseph (Subject)
- Jernigan, Ronald (Subject)
- Pepper, Virginia (Subject)