Covid-19 / Coronavirus update

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The Prime Minister has announced the end of social distancing from Monday 19th July 2021.

This means that it will no longer be a legal requirement to socially distance or wear a face covering.

However, as we enter Step 4 of the roadmap out of lockdown, the threat from Covid-19 is not over.

Cases of the virus will rise as social distancing comes to an end.

We must continue working together to safeguard the health and wellbeing of everyone within our community.

As such, in line with Government advice, the Academy expects and recommends that face coverings continue to be worn by everyone (unless you are medically exempt), at all times, while on site.

We encourage students and tutors to make full use of the space available to them in our spacious and well-ventilated studios.

Over the summer, students and tutors should continue to test regularly (at least twice weekly). Order free lateral flow tests.

Do not attend class if you have symptoms of Covid-19.

The ‘catch it, bin it, kill it’ approach continues to be very important.

Ensure good hand and respiratory hygiene by washing hands more often and catching any coughs.

QR codes and temperature checks remain in place upon arrival.

We will continue to monitor the situation and update our guidance accordingly.

This Summer, we are thrilled to offer a diverse array of online courses for those still looking to develop skills and interests into any medium from home. Explore our online courses here.

Academy Successes at Royal Society of Portrait Painters Annual Exhibition 2021

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Image courtesy of Minnie Scott ©

Congratulations to everyone at the Academy who was selected for the 2021 RP Exhibition at the Mall Galleries, including stage 2 FD Fine Art (Contemporary Portraiture) student Minnie Scott, whose painting Miriam Palimpset (pictured) is on show, and our tutors Tim Benson, David Caldwell, Illaria Rosselli Del Turco and Antony Williams. This year’s exhibition is available to view online here.

Don’t forget there is still time to apply for our FD Fine Art (Contemporary Portraiture) to start this September, see our website for further information.

Southwark Scholarship Scheme for BA (Hons) Fine Art

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We are delighted to announce that students who are accepted onto our BA (Hons) Fine Art who have lived in Southwark for the last 3 years are eligible to apply for a scholarship from Southwark council which covers the full cost of tuition fees to study with us. Applicants must receive an offer from AAL before they can apply to Southwark council for the scholarship.

 

Apply for our BA (Hons) Fine Art Now

 

You can then send us your completed form via email to admissions@artacademy.org.uk stating that you are eligible for the Southwark Council Scholarship

You can apply for this scholarship if you meet all of the eligibility criteria listed below:

  • under 25 years old
  • must come from a household with a combined income of less than £25,000 per annum
  • proven record of being a resident of Southwark for a minimum of the past 3 years (students placed outside of the borough temporarily by Southwark’s Housing Department are eligible subject to evidence)
  • have a legal status in the UK with indefinite leave to remain
  • must be entering higher education for the first time in autumn 2021
  • must have a proven record of active engagement and positively contributing to the community in Southwark
  • must have a good record of academic achievement

 

6-month Apprenticeships at the Academy

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Art Academy London is currently recruiting for three 6-month apprentices in our admin, operations and marketing departments through the DWP Kickstart scheme. This is a great opportunity to develop a wide range of skills in a friendly, supportive environment.  

For more information about the roles and to see the essential skills required, please visit our jobs page and download the job description and person specification.

Suitable candidates must:

  • be aged 16-24;
  • currently claiming Universal Credit; and
  • are required to apply through their local Job Centre following a referral from their Work Coach.

Please note the Academy cannot accept direct applications. Anyone interested in applying should speak to their DWP Work Coach. 

The Academy is an equal opportunities employer and recognises that a diverse workforce can enhance creativity and innovation in the workplace. As such we welcome applications from a diverse range of backgrounds. 

The deadline for applications is 12pm on Friday 16th April 2021. 

Opening of Art Academy London

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Following the Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown announcement, Art Academy London is pleased to announce we will fully re-open to the public for the Summer Term, starting 12th April 2021. 

Until then, we will continue to offer all courses online, whilst we prepare for the full reopening of Academic and Public Courses for the Summer Term. 

What this means for our Public Courses

  • Programmes beginning this week and next will remain online as scheduled.
  • Easter courses and Young Artists courses will run online. 
  • Summer term courses (evening and weekend) will be held, in-person, at our Mermaid Court & Newington campuses.
  • After we reopen, some courses will continue to run online, where there is demand.
  • Saturday Morning Art Club will continue as usual, please keep joining in the fun on Zoom each week at 10am. 

Thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to welcoming you back into our buildings very soon. 

Best wishes, 

Rob Pepper

Principal, Art Academy London 

Rob & Romesh Vs Art

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Last year we welcomed comedians Rob Beckett and Romesh Ranganathan to record an episode for season three of their show ‘Rob and Romesh Vs‘ which aired on Sky this month. After visiting some of the capital’s top galleries they joined our principal Rob Pepper and Academy tutor Laura Postle for a go at the real thing themselves!

Here are some behind the scene photos of the guys getting creative with Rob and Laura! If you want to get creative as Rob and Romesh did, have a look at our short courses starting in Easter.

 

Short Course Highlights this Autumn

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Are you looking for a course that will inspire you this Autumn (and get you out of the house)? We have a selection of ‘in person’ evening and weekend courses available throughout November and December. See our highlights below, across sculpture, printmaking and our exciting multi-media Sunday Mix! Limited places are available (with numbers reduced to accommodate social distancing), so be sure to book your place now.

Introduction to Sculpture:

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November, 10:15am – 4:15pm, £170

This 2-­day course is an exciting introduction to basic sculpture skills for beginners and those with some previous experience. Working mainly in clay and plaster and some other mixed media, you will learn a range of techniques then go on to explore your own creative project. You will spend the first day creating a small clay figure sculpture from a life model. On the second day you will develop creative sculpture using plaster and mixed media. Creative designs can be formulated on the day, so you do not need to come prepared with set ideas.

A Festive Introduction to Relief Printmaking:

Saturday 28th & Sunday 29th November, 10:00am – 4:00pm, £165

Guided by an expert printmaker, this course will show you how to create festive relief prints using woodcut and  linocut. This course is open to all, from complete beginners to those with more experience. To add a seasonal touch to the experience students may decide to print cards rather than paper prints. Either way you can enjoy the opportunity to develop or learn new skills and potentially create gifts for Christmas.

Lino Etching with Steve Edwards:

Saturday 5th & Sunday 6th December, 10:00am – 4:00pm, £175

This course is ideal for people who are looking to develop their relief printmaking skills. Our tutor will introduce you to a gestural approach to lino, combining the classical skill of carving a lino block with a contemporary approach to etching its surface with caustic soda. Bringing together painterly textures and graphic forms in a colourful multi-block print. The weekend course is a unique opportunity with one to one tutoring from Steve Edwards, a renowned British Printmaker.

Sunday Mix:

Sundays, 4 sessions, 15th November – 6th December, £150

The Sunday Mix is a really fun way to explore a wide variety of artistic methods and media, learn new skills, discover what you enjoy most, and develop creative ideas. Students will work across the different disciplines of painting, sculpture, drawing and printmaking. Students will have a chance to improve observational drawing skills; try out more expressive sculpture and painting, and learn how to approach the human figure, using a variety of materials and methods.

Art Academy London raises £10,000 for PPE in less than 24 hours

Thanks to all of your donations, Art Academy London have raised enough money to buy two 3D printers to print protective face masks for NHS staff. Taking only 12 hours to raise enough for one printer and another 4 to buy a second. This is evidence of the brilliant community that the Academy is a part of.

Our Sculpture Pathway Leader, Julian Wild, has printed over 1000 visor bands, which have been sent to several care homes and surgeries. We are now also an NHS supplier, so our visor bands are being sent directly into an NHS pool, to be sent where they are most needed.

We have been really pleased to see photos of the PPE in use at a care-home in Chichester. Thank you health heroes!

Academy students take part in #artistsupportpledge

There is no doubt in saying that COVID-19 has proven to be an incredibly scary shock to everyone. Just about every strata of our livelihoods has been affected by the virus, in some ways far more difficult than others. From the perspective of the Academy, the virus’s effect on artists and their world had been clearly evident. With cancelled exhibitions, tutorials moving online and our close-knit community being dispersed, it’s been really tough for our artists!

But it has been fantastic to see Academy student’s practices thrive despite social distancing. Many of our students have been taking part in the Artists Support Pledge on Instagram. Started by artist Matthew Burrows, the Support Pledge was designed to encourage artists to support each other through this economic slump. The idea being: artists sell selected artworks on Instagram for £200 each, then once five pieces are sold, they will buy a piece from another artist. With the affordable pricing of £200, the initiative has been designed to be accessible and attractive to a wider group of people.

See the below gallery of our students works being sold on Instagram. It shows the variety of practices that our students work in. Check out BA (Hons) student Scarlett Standen’s innovative drawings and prints and Contemporary Portraiture student Ruth Swain’s clever still life paintings. Our tutor, Kim Whitby, inspired us to get involved with the Pledge and has been selling her watercolours.

We love to see supportive initiatives like the Pledge. It reminds artists that they are not alone, and that their work can be a part of a network, separate from the world outdoors!

Not The Grad Show Opens Next Week

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This online exhibition, titled ‘Not The Grad Show’, showcases the work that the students have been making during lockdown, whilst their studies have been suspended. Diploma student Jonathan Faragher, created a video of the final works exhibited in a virtual version of the Newington Gallery. This video will go live on Thursday 2nd July at 12pm. It will be hosted on the Art Academy website here, along with individual versions of the work and artist bios.

We would like to invite you all to a Zoom Private View to celebrate the opening of ‘Not The Grad Show’ with us. If you would like to join please fill out the below form to receive an invite link.