Central School of Art and Design

The Central School of Art and Design was a public school of fine and applied arts in London, England. It offered foundation and degree level courses. It was established in 1896 by the London County Council as the Central School of Arts and Crafts. Central became part of the London Institute in 1986,[1] and in 1989 merged with Saint Martin's School of Art to form Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design.[2]

Central School of Art and Design
The Central School of Arts and Crafts, later Central School of Art and Design, in Southampton Row
Typeacademy of art and design
Active1896 (1896)–1989 (1989)
Location,
51°31′08″N 0°07′15″W / 51.5189°N 0.1207°W / 51.5189; -0.1207

History

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The Central School of Arts and Crafts was established in 1896 by the London County Council. It grew directly from the Arts and Crafts movement of William Morris and John Ruskin. The first principal – from 1896 to 1900 as co-principal with George Frampton – was the architect William Richard Lethaby, from 1896 until 1912;[3] a blue plaque in his memory was erected in 1957.[4] He was succeeded in 1912 by Fred Burridge.[3]

 
The blue plaque in memory of William Richard Lethaby, placed on the Southampton Row façade of the Central School of Arts and Crafts building in 1957

The school was at first housed in Morley Hall, rented from the Regent Street Polytechnic. In 1908 it moved to purpose-built premises in Southampton Row, in the London Borough of Camden.[3][5] In the same year the Royal Female School of Art, established in 1842, was merged into the school.[6]

The Central School of Arts and Crafts was renamed the Central School of Art and Design on 1 May 1966.[6] It became part of the London Institute in 1986,[1] and in 1989 merged with Saint Martin's School of Art to form Central Saint Martins College of Arts and Design.[2]

Alumni

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The alumni of the Central School of Art and Design include:

References

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  1. ^ a b [s.n.] (August 2012). University of the Arts London (formerly The London Institute) A Brief History. University of the Arts London. Archived 10 November 2013.
  2. ^ a b Malcolm Le Grice (2011). History Lessons. Frieze Issue 142, October 2011. Accessed July 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Overview: Central School of Arts and Crafts. Oxford Reference. Accessed July 2013.
  4. ^ Lethaby, William Richard (1857–1931): Plaque erected in 1957 by London County Council at Central School of Arts and Crafts, Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4AP, London Borough of Camden. English Heritage. Accessed July 2013.
  5. ^ Central St Martin's College of Art and Design. Historic England. Accessed August 2020.
  6. ^ a b GB 2753 Central School of Art and Design. AIM25: Archives in London and the M25 area. Accessed July 2013.