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Finding aid for Art Center (Europe) records
RG 19
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Title: Art Center (Europe)
Dates: 1978-2003
Collection number: RG 19
Creator:
Art Center (Europe)
Collection Size:
7.5 linear foot
12 box
Repository:
Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)
Pasadena, California 91103
Abstract: 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. This collection consists of correspondence, administrative files, blueprints,
and clippings that document Art Center (Europe)’s creation, operation, and closure.
Physical location: Art Center Archives
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
French
German
Italian
No restrictions. Collection is open for research by appointment.
All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from materials in this collection must be submitted to Art Center
College of Design Archives.
Art Center (Europe). RG 19. Art Center College of Design Archives. Pasadena, California.
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.
Scope and Content of Collection
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 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 remodeling and construction phase of
the school is well documented in the Buildings/Facilities files in Series 5. The chronological files in Series 6 were created
by Art Center (Europe) and include correspondence, reports, memos, and clippings regarding classes, students, and recruiting.
Public Relations materials in Series 9 document Art Center (Europe)’s media presence through the clippings and media summaries.
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.
The collection has been arranged alphabetically into ten series. The earliest material consists of files on proposed campus
sites in the Administrative files, but the bulk of the collection dates between 1986 and 1995. Oversized items, including
the publications, are housed in Box 12.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the library's online public access catalog.
Art Center College of Design (Pasadena, Calif.)
Art Center(Europe)
Chateau de Sully (La Tour-de-Peilz, Switzerland)
Bahnsen, Uwe 1934-
Brown, David R.
Henry, Joseph R.
Pepper, Virginia
Photographs removed to photograph archives.