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Minister for Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, TD, today announced the appointment of the new Board (An Bord) of the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

Following an open recruitment process, the Minister is pleased to appoint the following members to An Bord:

Dr Richard Thorn, Chair
Ms Sinéad Ryan
Ms Jane McDaid
Ms Christine O’Donovan
Mr Frederick M Goltz
Mr Darragh Hogan

The following members of An Bord were appointed by the Minister following nominations and elections by the staff and student body of the College –

Ms Gráinne Murphy
Ms Sonia O’Dwyer
Ms Rachel Tuffy
Dr Declan Long

NCAD was established under the provisions of the NCAD Act 1971. The College has four faculties – Design, Education, Fine Art and Visual Culture – and offers a large range of art and design degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

NCAD is based on the site of the Powers Whiskey Distillery in the heart of the Liberties in Dublin’s city centre. It has a community of 1,500 undergraduate, postgraduate and part-time students. NCAD is a recognised College of University College Dublin (UCD) since 2011 with UCD providing accreditation, validation and award of qualifications, enhancement of programmes of study and quality assurance and enhancement.

Minster Bruton said

“The National College of Art and Design plays a central role in the provision of art and design education in the State. Under the leadership of Dr Thorn as Chair, I am confident that the new members of An Bord will bring their valuable expertise and experience to bear in addressing the issues and circumstances facing the College as well as in supporting the College's education mission and strategic objectives. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Dr Thorn and his Board colleagues every success in their roles.”

The functions of An Bord are prescribed under Section 5 of the National College of Art and Design Act, 1971 and include the management of the College and the organisation and administration of its affairs.

Mary Mitchell O Connor, T.D., Minister for Higher Education, also welcomed the appointments.

“I would like to express my appreciation for the work of the outgoing Board of the NCAD in making substantial progress in addressing a number of governance issues within NCAD. I would like to acknowledge the particular contribution of the previous Chair, Professor Niamh Brennan. I wish the new members of An Bord well as they continue to develop and implement the necessary frameworks which will not only address these issues but will also assist in the strategic planning and development of NCAD into the future.”

The appointment by the Minister of a Chairperson and 9 members, in addition to the Director of NCAD as an ex-officio member of the Board, meets the necessary requirements for the size of An Bord under the NCAD Act 1971.