Our mission
To enable people to realise their creative potential by developing their artistic skills and insights.
Our principles
We’re an artist-led institution: we provide courses designed and delivered by expert, practising artists, for the artists of the future.
We believe in the value of art education: we believe art education has the power to be transformative, because we all benefit from the unlocking of individual creative potential: it impacts positively on personal wellbeing, to societal development and economic health.
We champion art for all: we believe everyone should have access to high-quality art education, so we provide a range of courses to suit all levels of skill and commitment.
We’re a vibrant, artistic community: our community goes beyond our students and tutors, to encompass local artists and the institutions we work with. We subsidise on-site studios, host regular exhibitions and run outreach programmes for people of all ages and backgrounds, creating a richly diverse and stimulating backdrop for study and self-expression.
We offer something distinct and increasingly rare: the best of an old-school atelier combined with the vibrancy and diversity of a contemporary art school.
Founded in 2000 by artist Tanya Russell to meet the need for a skills based art education in the UK, we offer tuition in core artistic skills, whilst challenging students to develop their own practice informed by contemporary processes and theory. We preserve skills, whilst believing that art never stands still.
What also sets us apart is our intensive and hands-on teaching approach. We are proud to offer the highest number of contact hours of any higher education art school in the UK across our academic courses.
We offer art courses for all levels – from a BA or Foundation Degree, to evening, weekend and short courses. We also provide support with bursaries and special education needs, and our community outreach programmes help make art education accessible in Southwark and the surrounding area.
As an art education charity, we’re passionate about championing art for all. We offer student bursaries that we designate from our own funds – we put any surplus back into supporting students and undertaking outreach work.
