The Faculty of Fine Arts possesses the twin strengths of 'studio and studies,' says Prof. Phillip Silver, new dean of Fine Arts

A dean's job is to bring out the talents and skills of the faculty, according to Phillip Silver, who began his five-year term as dean of the Faculty of Fine Arts on July 1.

An award-winning theatrical set designer, Silver has been a full-time member of the York faculty since 1986.

"I see this as an exciting phase for the Faculty of Fine Arts," says Silver. "I have the sense that we're at a moment where we can begin, at last, to be more positive. Government cuts appear to be declining. We now have an opportunity to rethink things, to grow, and to consolidate our focus."

His management style, he says, is to be as open and communicative as possible. "I have to make sure that everyone understands my vision, to open up the lines of communication so that I understand the vision of others, and that we're all heading in the same direction. I want to make sure that everyone is well informed.

"In the world of theatre, some directors are rather autocratic and insist that you follow their particular vision, but the directors I have enjoyed working with are those that function more as coaches. They take the many talents of the company and work with people to achieve their full potential. That's what I'm going to try to do as dean."

"We have a group of wonderful instructors, both tenured and sessionals, who are extremely committed, talented scholars and artists," he says. "The budget cuts of recent years and increased numbers in many classes have left them tired and stressed. I think part of my job in the first year will be to work with the faculty to get them to achieve what we know is their best."

Decision-making requires obtaining as much information as possible, Silver says. "I like to make an informed decision, and I hope there is a process in place so that everyone can understand the rationale for the decision. That is really important in the post-strike atmosphere at York. The strike did create some positive energy in our faculty, and I hope to keep that spirit."

The Faculty of Fine Arts possesses the twin strengths of "studio and studies," Silver says. "That phrase says exactly what we are. It's an understanding that the two are absolutely linked. Our professors are talented teachers and researchers, but they are also talented artists who understand where their art fits into contemporary society. We are the only fine arts faculty in Canada that achieves this delicate but critical balance."

"I want us to be artists who are not locked away in an ivory tower," he adds. "It's important for our students to know that they are being taught by people who are out there doing. There is an old saying, 'Those who can, do, and those who can't, teach.' I don't want that phrase to apply, or to be seen to apply, in the Faculty of Fine Arts."

In keeping with the studio-and-studies philosophy, Silver has just signed on to design the sets and lighting for a production of David Hare's play, Skylight, with director Diana LeBlanc. Skylight is scheduled to open at Ottawa's National Art Centre in January 1999 and will move to Edmonton's Citadel Theatre in February.

Although the administrative tasks of a dean are numerous, Silver plans to continue to do some teaching. In September, he is slated to give a fourth-year course in computer-aided design for theatre.

His goals for the faculty include creating a higher Faculty of Fine Arts profile, developing a lower student-teacher ratio, expanding the physical facilities, and hiring more faculty members. He wants to continue attracting top students and to maintain the faculty's solid reputation.

"We have been very lucky in terms of attracting good students, and they are almost always in the top percentile in terms of academic achievement, so aside from being talented, they are also really bright, intelligent, caring people," he says. "I want to be able to provide those students with the best education we can give them, to help them fulfill themselves."

The Fine Arts faculty's student-teacher ratio is threatening the historically excellent quality of its programs, Silver is convinced. "Through the initiatives taken to accommodate budget cuts, this faculty has increased its student-teacher ratio by something like 70 per cent. Everyone realizes that teaching fine arts demands a low student-teacher ratio. Other faculties at York have also seen increases, but across the University those increases have averaged in the order of 35 per cent.

"Over the years, we allowed ourselves to be convinced that it was economic necessity, and at the moment our faculty are feeling the results. They have little time or energy for their own research and creative ventures, which are so important for their personal growth.

"That is one of the challenges," says Silver. "I have a sense that the University administration understands our predicament and that there's a willingness to work with us to fix the problem."

He is also concerned for students and their ability to pay higher tuition fees. There's a lot of talent out there and we, as a society, deny ourselves access to that talent if we put huge financial obstacles in the way.

"A healthy society must encourage the next generation of artists. To do that, you have to provide accessible schooling," he says.

One of Silver's goals is to try to transfer the music department to the same building complex as houses the rest of Fine Arts. "Music is still over in Winters College, and has been there, on what was to have been a temporary basis, for almost its entire existence. The facilities are well below the standards needed for a first-class department. I share the concerns of many music faculty that our facilities are costing us good applicants.

"And there's another reason to bring music over to be with the rest of us. For years, we've been saying how important it is for the various arts to feed off each other, for us to promote, not just individual skills, but interdisciplinary programs."

The new Dean also wants to attract more of York's "citizens" ­ staff, students and faculty ­ to the productions, recitals and showings put on by students here. "I see York University as a small city, and although some of the people in it are commuters, many people live here. Through history, we have seen that any city that negates its cultural heritage becomes rather barren, so I think the Faculty of Fine Arts has a role to play in enriching the cultural life of the campus.

"When our dance students put on their spring choreography festival, for instance, they do some great work, but the audience is usually comprised of other dancers," Silver says. "I want our students to have an audience that is not just the converted."

Silver also wants to stage some events in downtown Toronto. "There's an opportunity for us to do some outreach. If we can have some evening events downtown, we'll increase our visibility and, hopefully, draw more people to events on campus."

It will be important to seek more connections with professional fine arts groups, he says. "I want to make closer contacts with the various associations that represent working artists in the professions. I think we need more people in the professions giving us feedback as to what they see are the levels of skills that the next generations need to have."

New hirings will be important, too. "In the next two years, we will have to be looking for some new appointments," Dean Silver says, "and I want to have some overlapping years so that the folks who are here will have time to pass on their wisdom and experience before they leave."

Silver lives in Stratford and commutes to York, and taking on the decanal role was a decision he made with his wife, Brenda, and their three children. Sons Elliott, 27, and Joel, 24, have left the family home and are well ensconced in their careers, and daughter Deborah, 18, is entering her final year of high school.

"The timing was right for this," says the new dean. "My wife and I both felt ready for this kind of challenge."