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Nick Cave receives honorary Monash degree

2 April 2008

Dr Cave said he was pleased and honoured to be conferred with the honorary degree.

Musician, novelist, actor, film score composer and screenwriter Nick Cave has been presented with an honorary degree from Monash University.

The honorary degree of Doctor of Laws was conferred by University Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins and Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel at a ceremony in Melbourne last week.

His mother Dawn, wife Susan, and twin sons Earl and Arthur also attended the ceremony.

Nick Cave studied for a Diploma of Art and Design (Fine Art) at the Caulfield Institute of Technology in 1977 and '78, in what is now the Faculty of Art and Design on the Caulfield campus of Monash University. He left his studies, which were primarily in painting, to successfully pursue a music career.

Dr Cave said he was pleased and honoured to be conferred with the honorary degree.

"Today I look back at my time at the arts school as one of the most important parts of my life," Dr Cave said.

"My time there was hugely influential; it's where many of my ideas were formed that I still hold today.

"It was of great benefit going to an arts school. To come from a very sports-oriented school to an environment full of like-minded people was incredibly exciting.

"What I learnt during that time was enormous; I've never been in the same kind of environment since. There was a generous and diverse exchange of views between students."

Professor Larkins said Nick Cave was one of Australia's most successful and prominent artists with a near 30 year career spanning music, novel-writing, acting and screenwriting which has had a major impact on contemporary "alternative" culture.

Dr Nick Cave shows his honorary degree to gathered media at a press conference last week. Dr Cave is pictured with Chancellor Dr Alan Finkel (left) and Vice-Chancellor Professor Richard Larkins (right).

"Nick Cave's substantial achievements in the creative arts and in raising Australia's profile internationally make him a worthy candidate for recognition by Monash University. In addition to his musical contributions, Nick Cave has shown an outstanding ability to contribute to writing and acting -- he is truly an extraordinary creative talent," Professor Larkins said.

"His reputation and popularity crosses age and culture barriers. As an Australian largely based out of London, and previously in Sao Paulo, Los Angeles and Berlin, Nick Cave has been successful in increasing the profile of Australia internationally, particularly in terms of our nation's creative and artistic capabilities."

Dr Finkel congratulated Nick Cave on his honorary degree, the first presented this year.

"Nick is a now a proud part of the Monash community. The University is Australia's largest research-intensive university, with more than 55,000 students, 200,000 alumni, a presence on three continents and a proud history of going boldly onto the world arena in both creative and scientific endeavours," Dr Finkel said.

In the 1980s, Nick Cave was one of the first Australian musicians to achieve considerable international prominence. As the front man for bands including The Birthday Party and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, he has released more than 20 albums. His unique musical style has been attributed with influencing countless other bands.

Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design John Redmond congratulated Nick Cave on his honorary degree and said he was one of the most high profile students to have studied within the faculty.

"The Faculty of Art and Design is a community that fosters student creativity and inquiry and, as Nick Cave shows, encourages experimentation and excellence in many artistic spheres. I am delighted that we can call Nick Cave a Monash graduate."