Trevor Scott Exhibition at IADT Library

The Library received some funding to inventory Trevor Scott’s Papers as a valuable addition to IADT’s historical archive. The Papers have been permanently archived and, over the next few months, a digital archive will be established on Illustro, the IADT institutional repository. A selection of photographs and artefacts has been curated to form a small exhibition at IADT Library.

The Library team would love to hear your memories of Trevor Scott and would appreciate help to identify individuals in the photographs. An open evening for discussion around the exhibition will be held in the Library on October 28th from 6.30 – 8pm. All welcome.

Trevor Scott (1945 – 2003)

The photographs and documents in this exhibition are drawn from the Trevor Scott Papers, a recently archived collection belonging to the former president of the Institute. Trevor Scott was a central figure in the history of IADT.

Trevor Scott began his career as an art teacher at what was then Dun Laoghaire Technical College, and he went on to hold several key roles, including Acting President of Dun Laoghaire School of Art. He is best remembered for his time as Head of Art from 1981 – 1990, during which he played a vital role in shaping the creative direction of the College.

It was under Scott that the College achieved third-level status in 1979, after he spearheaded protests against the Dun Laoghaire Vocational Education Committee while serving as Acting Principal. He expanded the range of courses on offer to include film, design, sculpture, and many others, laying the groundwork for the diverse programmes offered by IADT today.

Scott’s passion for the arts was legendary, and he was highly respected by staff and students across the College. His influence extended beyond Ireland; he directed the International Puppet Festival from 1991 – 2000 and he was active in Artists’ Association International, among many other global initiatives.

Trevor Scott’s legacy lives on not only in the continued growth and development of IADT, but also in the generations of artists, educators, and creative thinkers he inspired. The Trevor Scott Papers archive is available for consultation by students and staff by request to the Library staff. The digitised archive will be launched on Illustro, the IADT institutional repository, later this year. Thanks to Elsa Van Helfteren, Ferdia Darragh, and Adrian Heffernan for their work on the archive and the exhibition.