OUR NEW CAMPUS

We’re thrilled to announce we will soon be relocating to a prestigious new building, Triptych adjacent to Tate Modern. The move will further reinforce Bankside as one of London’s foremost cultural quarters. Backed by generous donor support, including from developers JTRE London, and a recently successful fundraising auction at Christie’s London, the relocation will enable the Academy to extend our unique approach to skills-based art education.

The new campus will increase The Academy’s physical footprint and the positive impact through its work of reinforcing connections and collaboration with the local Southwark community. Designed with architects Squire and Partners and forming a part of JTRE London’s Triptych Bankside development, the landmark site encompasses 13,940 square feet across two levels and features:

• 9 state of the art teaching studios
• 2 gallery and exhibition spaces
• An auditorium
• Specialist workshop spaces for local artists and communities
• A cafe and art supplies shop open to the public

Click here to VIEW A 360 VIRTUAL TOUR of the new campus under construction!  The virtual tour will be updated as construction progresses.

Principal Rob Pepper is enthusiastic about the opportunities presented by the new campus, “Our unique vision is for an art school where everyone is welcome. Our partnership with the Open University shows our dedication to providing the best HE provision but it’s essential that we share our knowledge more widely. This move will enable us to create many more free places for local children on our Young Artists courses, to scale our support for art teachers nationwide through free professional development courses and to extend our open-access tuition to local charities working with disabled artists. On top of all this, we will be able to provide subsidised exhibition spaces and low-cost studios for artists in Zone 1”.

He also emphasises the importance of accessibility in the new building, stating, “Our existing home on Borough High Street is a wonderful old building, but historical structures can present challenges in terms of accessibility. Our new building will be fully accessible to everyone, ensuring inclusivity.”

Dr. Frances Morris, Outgoing Director of the Tate Modern and a long-time supporter of Art Academy London praises the Academy’s dedication to revitalise arts education in its new location,  “What Rob and the team have done with the Art Academy is to take the art school model, which has in many ways become tired and conventional, and create something with enormous potential for lifelong learning that is open and inclusive.”

Nigel Fleming, Managing Director of JTRE London states, “This is a huge milestone for JTRE London and continues to demonstrate our unwavering commitment to shaping the spaces that we operate in for the better. We are delighted to work with the team at Art Academy London to help make their vision a reality, this is an exciting addition to Triptych Bankside, adding to the strong artistic credentials of the area and further activating the site for residents and the wider community.”

Art Academy London Fundraising Campaign Chair Natasha Kaplinsky adds: “We’re thrilled with the early response to our fundraising campaign and while we still have lots of work to do, we are well on the way to our £4m target. The new building is a proud statement of our belief that arts education is a vital tool for social progress, well-being and economic health. This message is really resonating with our supporters and we look forward to growing our impact as the campaign continues over the coming months.”

Remaining in Southwark has been a key priority in considering our  future plans. We aim to continue our established strong connections with the local community by collaborating with schools and organisations to provide workshops for disabled artists, local schoolchildren and nursing home residents.

Triptych Bankside

Developed by JTRE London and designed by internationally acclaimed London architects Squire & Partners, Triptych Bankside is a new, mixed-used development situated on the vibrant Southbank. A stone’s throw from the Tate Modern, it comprises two sweeping residential towers with 169 residences, and 85,000 sq. ft office building, as well as independent retail and wellness space.

We are now more than halfway to our target, but we still need your help!
Help us kit out the new campus with all the equipment students need to fulfil their potential.