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The promotion of colour in all aspects of life has given rise to the birth of new professions. That of Colour Consultant is most marked but also most controversial. Its application has been affected knowingly or unknowingly by a popular misunderstanding and misuse of the concept.

Within the framework of the Belgian Centre for Information about Colour (C.I.C), a section called Psychology and Aesthetics of Colour and Light, has a mission to contest false information, error and misuse. This section has judged that the ceation of a valid professional education is the most effective way of correcting misinformation and errors that concern the profession of Colour Consultant.

Thanks to the enlightened support from the Department of Education for the town of Liaege, it has been possible to realise this education, and courses commenced on the 4th September 1960 at the local School of Painting and Coach-building (Carroserie), directed by M. Henri Lemaine.

This teaching, the level of which corresponds with the degree B1 of professional education, comprises of two preliminary years during which one inculcates the basic concepts of the physics and physiology of colour and, of first importance, those of aesthetic chromatology*, which is the foundation of the knowledge of applied aesthetics in this domain. The colour aesthetics course has been created by M. Demulder-Dutron, professor at the Academy of Fine Arts of Molenbeek, who has acquired much professional experience and a realistic sense of artistry. The course will be given at Liaege by M. Demulder-Dutron, himself.

The first two years of the course will be followed by a year of higher education, in which the basic principles learnt over the preceding two years will be developed in their application to different specialisations, on the following themes:

• The ethics of the profession of Colour Consultant
• The psychological study of colour
• Functional colour
• Colour in the design of the interior
• Colour in industrial aesthetics
• Colour in architecture
• Colour in Lighting
• Colour in display
• The study of coloured materials

This initiative is the first effective realisation of a professional education in Colour. It has been approved by the State, and the award of a Diploma in Colour Consultancy has been officially confirmed.

Chromatologie EsthCtique. In a former issue of Couleurs, M.Demulder-Dutron described Aesthetic Chromatology as largely 'practical psychology and the adaptation of scientific laws to diverse artistic sensibilities helping each to become aware of what is valid in the attitudes of others. DEMULDER-DUTRON, M . (1960) ' The teaching of Colour adapted to the artistic professions' .Couleurs no.36.

Degrees in Colour-related subjects

Nowadays there are universities all over the world capable of catering for degrees in Colour-related subjects, including Colour Consultancy. In the UK one of the most notable is Derby. Some universities specialize in Colour in relation to specific subjects such as Textiles, as at Manchester, UMIST.

A Colour Reference Library

The finest Colour Library in Europe is the Colour Reference Library at the Royal College of Art, Kensington, London. (www.rca.ac.uk)

Colour Schools

There have also been units teaching colour to groups outside the universities, such as the British Colour School of about the 1960s, that issued colour cards illustrating colour circles and related colour data. Towards the end of its life, the British Colour Council (1930-1972) had a teaching facility.

Micro Academy has published computer programs, videos and filmstrips on education in Colour.

Colour in Children's education

Colour styles in Children's paintings were described by a well-known London Teacher and art inspector, Alexander Barclay-Russell, in his Languages of Expression. Barclay Russell's collection of children's paintings can be seen at the National Art Education Archives at Bretton Hall in Wakefield, West Yorkshire.