Banksy is to be made an honorary professor of a university in the UK next month, it has been announced. The Bristol-born street artist has been recognised by the University for the Creative Arts (UCA) - which has sites in Canterbury, Epsom and Rochester - in recognition of his "humanitarian efforts and the impact he has had on the global arts scene".
The university has said the anonymous graffiti artist will not be attending the ceremony and the honour is set to be conferred upon an empty chair. The institution lauded Banksy for his distinctive style that highlights other artists and humanitarian causes.
Professor Bashir Makhoul, UCA’s President and Vice-Chancellor, said: “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.”
