Reversing the Closure of Craft Courses at Edinburgh College of Art

That the Parliament condemns the University of Edinburgh's decision to close its Jewellery and Silversmithing, Textiles and Performance Costume courses at Edinburgh College of Art to new admissions from 2027; notes that an online petition calling for the closures to be reversed has been signed by more than 10,000 people; understands that these are the last undergraduate craft degrees offered by the college and that graduates include lead costume designers on Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones; believes that closing practical craft courses is a serious misjudgement, as the skills they provide are among those considered most resistant to replacement by AI; understands that the University and College Union has condemned the closures as being part of a wider "slash and burn" strategy and has called for strike action in response; welcomes the efforts of Craft Scotland, the UK Crafts Council and the European Crafts Alliance in opposing these cuts, and calls on the University of Edinburgh to halt the process and publish the case behind the closures before taking any further irreversible steps.