The purpose of the Art Academy is to benefit society through art and art education. It was founded in 2000 with the aim of combining the best aspects of a traditional skills-based apprenticeship and a contemporary Fine Art course. The Academy also reaches out to the wider community through its many short courses, its commissions, outreach programs and corporate team events. The Academy is based in London Bridge and has recently been called the fastest growing art school in London.
We are a charity whose aims are:
- To contribute to the creation of great works of art, by
- Providing the highest standard of education to students wishing to become professional artists
- By giving creative opportunities to the wider community and by
- Encouraging debate around the practice and principles of Higher Education in Fine Art
- The development of creative skills, both traditional and contemporary, allows freedom of expression. Diploma students have more than 24 hours a week contact time with tutors who are specialists in a range of disciplines. No specific style is imposed – the style is then free to follow the artist’s intention.
- Each student should be trained to develop a robust creative process which allows them to be true to their creative vision. The creative process can and should be learned. Design process, critique methodology, creative and contextual awareness, and personal vision form key parts of the curriculum.
- Understanding the art market and the world of the professional artist helps artists make informed choices within their creative practice. Tutors at the Academy are all working professional artists, and we have resident artists from whom the students gain a first-hand understanding of professional life. We also have a comprehensive professional development programme running throughout the course and students have opportunities to exhibit, gain commissions and teach during their studies.
- Creativity is best nurtured in a small, dedicated and vibrant artistic community. The Academy maintains a body of approximately 50 Diploma students to ensure that each student can be cared for and nurtured within a hive of creative energy. In addition the students benefit from the fact that the Academy is the focus of myriad creative activities. We expect to have a similar sized body of 45 younger Foundation students next year and we cater for fifty-five 2-year Certificate students.
