City & Guilds Of London Art School: Europe's Leading Skill Based Institute Focused On Holistic Growth
By Dr. Lois Rowe, Principal
Established in London, England in 1854 as a specialist college, City & Guilds of London Art School is dedicated to teaching the techniques of specialist crafts. Since inception, the institute has vested its focus on developing skills required in the artisan manufacturing industries and has since then evolved and expanded its educational programmes. It currently offers an alternative approach to that provided in most other art schools across its Conservation, Carving and Contemporary Fine Art departments.
Over the past 170 years, the Art School has played a vital role in passing on specialist craft skills and inspiring new generations of creatives to restore and conserve precious built heritage of the past, but to also innovate and embed that heritage in new approaches to contemporary praxis.
"œWe are the leading skills-based institution in Europe for many of the specific subjects that we teach such as Stone Carving, and in other subject areas, such as Paper Conservation. Our students travel to Paris and Venice each year and many of our staff have trained in European countries. As an institution we are increasingly looking outward to embrace ancient specialist techniques, alongside contemporary approaches to art and technologies", says Dr Lois Rowe, Principal.
At City & Guilds of London Art School, the students are able to not only access the teaching of rare or "˜endangered' skills, such as gilding, but actually extend beyond that by embedding professionalism in day to day studentship.
All of the tutors and technicians at the institute work as freelancers in industry and this helps inform students on how the creative sector works in a very immediate, updated way. It extends beyond the principles of "˜practice' to touch on how you can actually have a career that extends from your interests.
CGLAS, a member of the European League CGLAS, a member of the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) takes time to support and challenge students to investigate contemporary and historical skills, theories and materials, art histories, visual and contextual research, entrepreneurship and project management. These rigorous five day a week courses in generous studios enable students to achieve exceptional results and move on to professional practice or further study with confidence and experience. We don't believe in a "˜house style'; this is an Art School where, with focus and ambition, students can fully explore and develop their own artistic "˜voice'.
At City & Guilds of London Art School, the tutors are able to offer real world career advice and the department places a strong emphasis on contact time, ensuring that students have regular one to one tutorials, group critiques and seminars as well as ongoing informal dialogue. The institute also organizes specialist workshops embracing ancient techniques, alongside contemporary approaches and technologies.
Expert practitioners, who focus on encouraging and supporting students to develop the skills and confidence to explore processes creatively and independently, manage the technical facilities including: Print Room, Casting Room, Wood workshop, Drawing Studio, Metal Foundry, Ceramics & Glass workshops, Dark Room and specialist library.
The Art School also supports international students directly with advice on local housing. The students are also introduced to contemporary practice through the historical genres of fine art with a particular emphasis on the technical use of materials and processes, alongside art histories research through practical workshops, seminars and lectures.
"Many of our students work directly with industry as part of our curriculum. Our Conservation students work with objects that are loaned to the Art School from our many cultural heritage partners. Students in Carving are often invited to conduct "˜live projects' or commissions for our wide network and we see this kind of opportunity as part of the Art School's unique learning experience. In Fine Art, students all take part in off-site and on-site learning, including their own shows as a way to learn more about the creative sector", says Hannah Travers, Head of Development & External Relations.
Furthermore, The European Training Foundation Policy Briefing recently commented on this valuable aspect of our "˜innovative organisation', stating that, "œThe role of teachers and tutors is a crucial aspect: all tutors are well-established professional specialists who work on some of the country's most prestigious projects alongside teaching in the department. This ensures that the course is both critical and recognizes current industry standards. The tutors provide a network of professional contacts that frequently support future employment and placements." In order to encourage learners, City & Guilds of London Art School also offers assistance in terms of scholarships. "œIt is important to us that if applicants have the potential to thrive on one of our courses, they get every opportunity to study with us, regardless of financial circumstances. The Art School provides 60+ grants a year, thanks to the generous funding of supporters.
On average, 40 percent of BA and MA students every year receive bursaries towards tuition fees. In 2023/24, available support will include the Leverhulme Scholarships (covering full MA home fees) and the Bloomfield Bursaries (covering full home fees and a living cost stipend for a BA and an MA student each year) and The Anthony Caro Sculpture Bursary (MA partial fees)", briefs Nick Rampley, Director of Resources and Operations.
As an institution City & Guilds of London Art School is very interested in developing the international conversation and application of contemporary art and heritage subjects. "œOur focus presently is India and Canada due to the focus on pedagogic innovation in those areas, but through our staff we are also connecting to other creative histories such as Nigerian craft culture", says Rowe.
"In order to encourage learners, City & Guilds of London Art School also offers assistance in terms of scholarships"
Recently, Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCADU) has partnered with City & Guilds of London Art School, alongside University of the Arts London (UAL). Together, the three institutes are developing an international research community that explores current themes in contemporary art & culture, such as the civic role of the Art School and how creative institutions help the world with real-life urgencies like climate change and social justice. By doing this, the Art School aspires to maintain their local identity, but most importantly, connect with wider agendas for art and its industries.
Signing off the interactions, Rowe says, "œAs the Principal of the Art School I would like to say that I came to London as an International student from Canada and the experience of the Art School is a very unique approach, with both independent and collective pedagogies at the heart of the learning journey. This is a very valuable way to study creativity at this level and establishes a maturity towards practice that is invaluable for entering professional fields. It might also be worth drawing attention to our National Student Survey (NSS) rating, which is 87 percent, well above average for UK institutions."
Over the past 170 years, the Art School has played a vital role in passing on specialist craft skills and inspiring new generations of creatives to restore and conserve precious built heritage of the past, but to also innovate and embed that heritage in new approaches to contemporary praxis.
"œWe are the leading skills-based institution in Europe for many of the specific subjects that we teach such as Stone Carving, and in other subject areas, such as Paper Conservation. Our students travel to Paris and Venice each year and many of our staff have trained in European countries. As an institution we are increasingly looking outward to embrace ancient specialist techniques, alongside contemporary approaches to art and technologies", says Dr Lois Rowe, Principal.
Unique Offerings
At City & Guilds of London Art School, the students are able to not only access the teaching of rare or "˜endangered' skills, such as gilding, but actually extend beyond that by embedding professionalism in day to day studentship.
All of the tutors and technicians at the institute work as freelancers in industry and this helps inform students on how the creative sector works in a very immediate, updated way. It extends beyond the principles of "˜practice' to touch on how you can actually have a career that extends from your interests.
CGLAS, a member of the European League CGLAS, a member of the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) takes time to support and challenge students to investigate contemporary and historical skills, theories and materials, art histories, visual and contextual research, entrepreneurship and project management. These rigorous five day a week courses in generous studios enable students to achieve exceptional results and move on to professional practice or further study with confidence and experience. We don't believe in a "˜house style'; this is an Art School where, with focus and ambition, students can fully explore and develop their own artistic "˜voice'.
Industry Ready Approach
At City & Guilds of London Art School, the tutors are able to offer real world career advice and the department places a strong emphasis on contact time, ensuring that students have regular one to one tutorials, group critiques and seminars as well as ongoing informal dialogue. The institute also organizes specialist workshops embracing ancient techniques, alongside contemporary approaches and technologies.
Expert practitioners, who focus on encouraging and supporting students to develop the skills and confidence to explore processes creatively and independently, manage the technical facilities including: Print Room, Casting Room, Wood workshop, Drawing Studio, Metal Foundry, Ceramics & Glass workshops, Dark Room and specialist library.
The Art School also supports international students directly with advice on local housing. The students are also introduced to contemporary practice through the historical genres of fine art with a particular emphasis on the technical use of materials and processes, alongside art histories research through practical workshops, seminars and lectures.
"Many of our students work directly with industry as part of our curriculum. Our Conservation students work with objects that are loaned to the Art School from our many cultural heritage partners. Students in Carving are often invited to conduct "˜live projects' or commissions for our wide network and we see this kind of opportunity as part of the Art School's unique learning experience. In Fine Art, students all take part in off-site and on-site learning, including their own shows as a way to learn more about the creative sector", says Hannah Travers, Head of Development & External Relations.
Furthermore, The European Training Foundation Policy Briefing recently commented on this valuable aspect of our "˜innovative organisation', stating that, "œThe role of teachers and tutors is a crucial aspect: all tutors are well-established professional specialists who work on some of the country's most prestigious projects alongside teaching in the department. This ensures that the course is both critical and recognizes current industry standards. The tutors provide a network of professional contacts that frequently support future employment and placements." In order to encourage learners, City & Guilds of London Art School also offers assistance in terms of scholarships. "œIt is important to us that if applicants have the potential to thrive on one of our courses, they get every opportunity to study with us, regardless of financial circumstances. The Art School provides 60+ grants a year, thanks to the generous funding of supporters.
On average, 40 percent of BA and MA students every year receive bursaries towards tuition fees. In 2023/24, available support will include the Leverhulme Scholarships (covering full MA home fees) and the Bloomfield Bursaries (covering full home fees and a living cost stipend for a BA and an MA student each year) and The Anthony Caro Sculpture Bursary (MA partial fees)", briefs Nick Rampley, Director of Resources and Operations.
Path Ahead
As an institution City & Guilds of London Art School is very interested in developing the international conversation and application of contemporary art and heritage subjects. "œOur focus presently is India and Canada due to the focus on pedagogic innovation in those areas, but through our staff we are also connecting to other creative histories such as Nigerian craft culture", says Rowe.
"In order to encourage learners, City & Guilds of London Art School also offers assistance in terms of scholarships"
Recently, Ontario College of Art & Design University (OCADU) has partnered with City & Guilds of London Art School, alongside University of the Arts London (UAL). Together, the three institutes are developing an international research community that explores current themes in contemporary art & culture, such as the civic role of the Art School and how creative institutions help the world with real-life urgencies like climate change and social justice. By doing this, the Art School aspires to maintain their local identity, but most importantly, connect with wider agendas for art and its industries.
Signing off the interactions, Rowe says, "œAs the Principal of the Art School I would like to say that I came to London as an International student from Canada and the experience of the Art School is a very unique approach, with both independent and collective pedagogies at the heart of the learning journey. This is a very valuable way to study creativity at this level and establishes a maturity towards practice that is invaluable for entering professional fields. It might also be worth drawing attention to our National Student Survey (NSS) rating, which is 87 percent, well above average for UK institutions."