The University for the Creative Arts (UCA) has announced that it is making Banksy an honorary professor.
The street artist and political activist is being recognised for “his humanitarian efforts and the impact he has had on the global arts scene,” say the university.
Banksy’s Honorary Professorship will be conferred during the UCA graduation ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall in London on Wednesday (July 6).
However, Banksy will not be in attendance at the ceremony in accordance with his desire to remain anonymous.
Instead, the honour will be conferred upon an empty chair.
“Joining a long list of illustrious creatives who have received Honorary Awards from the University for the Creative Arts, Banksy is one of the UK’s best-known artists, famous throughout the world – an example that UCA students can look up to, who uses his talents to disrupt the status quo, while challenging us all to confront some of the key issues of our time: war and peace, inequality, and art’s role as a vehicle of social expression,” Professor Bashir Makhoul, UCA’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said in a statement.
Speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, Professor Terry Perk, UCA’s assistant vice-chancellor, said that the university had contacted Banksy via his representatives, and he had “acknowledged our intention” to confer the award.
Back in May, a councillor in Wales resigned from his post after rumours spread that he was Banksy.
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