The art school has had a fundamental effect on society internationally, influencing how the creative arts are represented and perceived. At a time that funding in the UK is placing arts education in crisis, this is the first book of its kind to investigate the concept of the 'art school' and its social impact and legacy. It highlights how the physical studios and workshops, designed for learning, teaching and making, influence and interact with the curriculum, creativity and practice. Beautifully illustrated, with both archival and contemporary photographs, many taken by the authors, this book celebrates the spaces dedicated to learning and teaching creative disciplines. Exploring a drastically shifting landscape in higher education, it celebrates the crucial relationship between the creative working spaces and the development of creative minds. A timely reflection on the current social and political climate, this book emphasises the significant role that the art school has to play in society, developing thriving creative industries and a wider culture of the arts.
Featured art schools include:
- Chelsea College of Arts
- Government College of Art, Chandigarh
- The Bauhaus
- Escuelas Nacionales de Arte (ENA), Cuba
- Manchester School of Art.
<p><strong>Rose Gridneff</strong> is an academic, writer, and designer. She is co-author of <em>Architectures of Art and Design Education</em> (RIBA Publishing 2025), which explores the built environment of art and design schools. It highlights how studios and workshops designed for learning, teaching, and making influence and interact with curriculum, creativity, practice, and community.</p>
<p>Rose has worked in higher education since 2006, leading undergraduate and postgraduate design courses at University for the Creative Arts, Kingston School of Art, and Ravensbourne University. She has contributed to national frameworks for art and design education and currently works for the Design School at Camberwell and Chelsea Colleges of Art, University of the Arts London.</p>
<p><strong>Neil Drabble</strong> is an academic and artist based in London. He holds an MA in Academic Practice and has worked on numerous educational projects exploring pedagogies supporting physical learning environments and studio cultures. His art practice focuses primarily on photography, publishing, and curation, with photographic monographs published by Steidl/MACK alongside other book projects including <em>Into the Woods; Trees in Photography</em> (Thames & Hudson), which accompanied a large photographic survey exhibition at the V&A Museum. His work is held in various collections including the National Portrait Gallery and the V&A.</p>
