Oscar winner inspires UCA Epsom students
Oscar-winning filmmaker and Royal Designer Arnold Schwartzman OBE RDI flew in from Hollywood this week to visit the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) at Epsom.
The UCA Canterbury graduate, who has produced work for major clients including Coca-Cola, The Rolling Stones and the Los Angeles Olympics over the past 53 years, gave a special talk for students and staff on Tuesday (16 October).
The packed lecture theatre heard about his extraordinary journey as a filmmaker, graphic designer and author, and shared a variety of stories about his work with Elizabeth Taylor, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, George Lucas and many more.
Arnold Schwartzman said: "When I was a student at UCA Canterbury, I always appreciated the frequent visits from prominent designers who came to give guest lectures and I learned so much from them.
"I feel that when you reach a certain age and gain a good amount of success you owe it to the next generation to give something back and I really believe that it's important to nurture the future artists and designers."
After graduating from UCA Canterbury (then Canterbury College of Art) in 1955, Arnold began his professional career as a graphic designer for Southern Television in Southampton.
He later joined Associated-Rediffusion Television in London and went on to become: an advertising art director, a member of the Board at Conran Design, television commercial director, and a regular illustrator for the Sunday Times.
Schwartzman received an Oscar® for producing and directing the Best Documentary feature, Genocide, at the 1982 Academy Awards. In 1984, he was appointed the Director of Design for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.
For a number of years he designed the Academy Awards® commemorative posters and programmes, as well as producing theatrical film trailers. In 2010, he created two murals for the Grand Lobby of Cunard's new liner "Queen Elizabeth".
Arnold is a staunch supporter of UCA and has been a member of the university's board of governors for several years, despite living 9,000 miles away.
He added said: "The main reason for my visit to Epsom today is to complete a task, which I set myself a few years ago, to give something back to UCA as a governor.
"I'm delighted to have lectured at four of UCA's five campuses and today at Epsom I have finally managed to complete the set, so this is the cherry on the cake for me.
"I've visited UCA Epsom a number of times and I'm pleased to come back and see the new building with its fantastic facilities."
Arnold was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) by HM Queen Elizabeth ll in 2002, and was conferred the distinction of Royal Designer for Industry, RDI, in 2006.
For more information contact:
David Reilly, Press Officer, UCA
T: 01252 892939
E: dreilly@ucreative.ac.uk
