In an exciting development for the city, Exeter College has recently launched the new Exeter School of Art – reviving more than 150 years of tradition.

Since 1854 there has been a strong history of art and design education in Exeter. Sited in Queen Street, very close to where the original Art School was established all those years ago, Exeter College has worked with partners to bring Exeter School of Art back to the cultural heart of the city.

The launch of the new Exeter School of Art was celebrated at a recent event held at Exeter College’s Centre for the Creative Industries and saw the unveiling of a new identity for the School. The branding was created and designed by two former Exeter College students Robert Boyd and Jimmy Ginn who worked on the project while at the College last year as part of their University level course.

The launch event was attended by Professor Dafydd Moore, Executive Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Plymouth University, Ross Anderson, Acting Director, University of the Arts Awarding Body, members of the Senior Leadership Team from Exeter College, Governors, Staff, current and former students and many others from the wider art and design community in Exeter.

Richard Atkins CBE, Principal of Exeter College, said: “I am delighted that Exeter College has launched the new Exeter School of Art, which celebrates our links with Plymouth University through our Foundation Degree partnership and the University of the Arts London, and brings back more than 150 years of creative heritage. We are very proud to be able to play our part in developing further the artistic and cultural life of the city and our community.”

Professor Dafydd Moore, Executive Dean of Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Plymouth University, said: “It was great to be a part of this important event in the life of the College. The Faculty of Arts and Humanities at Plymouth University is very proud both to trace its roots back to 1854 and the Exeter College of Art and Design, and also of our continued involvement in Arts education in Exeter in partnership with Exeter College. The reassertion of that heritage and tradition in the shape of Exeter School of Art opens an exciting new chapter in the cultural and educational life of the city.”

Ross Anderson, Acting Director, University of the Arts Awarding Body, said: “I was delighted to be asked to speak at the launch of the Exeter School of Art on behalf of the University of the Arts London (UAL)

“It's an extremely exciting initiative and hugely positive for the arts in Exeter. Exeter College – and now Exeter School of Art – are a fantastic partner for UAL and we value the relationship hugely.”

The Exeter School of Art will be located within the Faculty of Art and Design at Exeter College. The School of Art will be an integral part of the existing dynamic faculty and will be the home for Art and Design University Level provision and the UAL Foundation Diploma in Art & Design. We will also continue to work with partners across a wider artistic community within Exeter and the South West, with Plymouth University and with the University of the Arts London, Awarding Body.

Nigel Watts, Head of the Faculty of Art and Design at Exeter College, said: “This is a very exciting time for us. We hope that the launch of the new School of Art will build on the growing sense of pride within Exeter in which creativity and art is flourishing. We have some very exciting plans for the next few years taking the new School of Art forward. I would like to thank our former students Robert Boyd and Jimmy Ginn for their fantastic work in producing the dynamic branding for the Exeter School of Art.”

As part of the launch event we were delighted to show works by Ruth Carpenter, Volkhardt Muller and Peter Randall-Page.

The Exeter School of Art has lots of exciting courses on offer to potential students and there is still time to apply for September 2016.

The courses include two year University Level courses in Fine Art, Graphic Communication and Photography and Digital Arts, as well as a one year Foundation Diploma in Art & Design.

For more about the Exeter School of Art, see www.exeterschoolofart.co.uk To find out more about studying at the new Exeter School of Art, please contact: Exeter School of Art, Centre for the Creative Industries, Exeter College, Queen Street Exeter, EX4 3SR, telephone 01392400500, or email visualarts@exe-coll.ac.uk