Although some of that impression might be put down to cute copywriting from the university’s PR offices, the headline, “Future in focus for new School of Art head,” bore a sinister resemblance to last year’s announcement of a wonderful new era at the ANU School of Music—a prelude to a major staff spill.

Nobody would question Ferris’s credentials and the ANU was quick to note that her work is included in many local and international public collections, that she would bring “a wealth of knowledge and experience in the arts” and that she had previously been Associate Dean (Education) of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences.

But Canberrans have become rightly suspicious of the ANU’s hyperbole when it comes to changes in its cultural schools, and news of Ferris’s appointment coincides precisely with wildfire stories that the university is planning 50 per cent cuts to staff at the school.

“My vision for the School of Art is for it to be one of the jewels in the crown at ANU and known as a centre of excellence. My aim is to retain the school’s strong community support and be continually valued by Canberra and our wider audiences,” Dr Ferris said.

Arguing that the school ticks all the right boxes for the Canberra community, she adds, “Through our endeavours with artsACT, placing our artists in schools and workshops, and connecting with school groups, we are hooked into the community and value that relationship.”

But hang on there,  wasn’t this supposed to be a peak visual arts academy? Shouldn’t the boxes ticked be to do with artistic excellence? Dr Ferris’s declared “excitement” about the future of the School of Art will, until assurance are given of a firm future for the school, be taken with a grain of salt.

Right now there is a whiff of “The lady doth protest too much” about the whole exercise.