Historic School of Art goes digital

MANCHESTER’s Victorian art school is to get a £30 million make-over to get in shape for a digital future.

Manchester Metropolitan University, where the School is based, is spending £30 million on a stunning hi-tech building next to the historic Grosvenor Building where LS Lowry and Adolphe Valette were pupil and teacher.

The School founded in 1838 – the first regional art school in England – made its name providing skilled artisans for the textiles industry during Manchester’s industrial revolution.

Looking to the future, the School wants to play an equally important role in the digital revolution, training artists and designers for the creative, digital and new media industry which is forecast to create nearly 20,000 new jobs in the city by 2020*.

Manchester tradition

Professor David Crow, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design, said: “We are very proud of our illustrious past and will continue the Manchester tradition in fine art, textiles, ceramics and glass.

“But the future is digital, and we need to provide the media and design professionals for the BBC and other growth industries. We are investing millions in digital laboratories, laser cutters, rapid prototypers and hi-tech equipment for video, animation and graphic design.”

Architects Fielden Clegg Bradley have been appointed to design the six-storey building with a rooftop exhibition area and refurbish the eight-storey Chatham building to incorporate the new ‘media lab’ and ‘design lab’.

New masters courses are being launched in Photography and Film-Making and there will be a new undergraduate programme in Interactive and Broadcast Media. The School will also work closely with the University’s scientists and engineers on concepts for the computer games industry.

Industry welcome

The investment has been warmly welcomed by industry representatives. Dave Carter, Head of Manchester Digital Development Agency, said: “Manchester prides itself on being an innovative, creative city and the Manchester School of Art has consistently played an important role in generating and sustaining creativity.

“We see the proposals for enhancing the School of Art’s role within the MMU as essential for the future of Manchester’s creative talent and creative industries and are very happy to be involved in supporting them.”

Tony Foggett, chief executive of digital agency Code Computerlove said: “The University made a promise to our industry to increase levels of involvement. This is a good example of it starting to happen and we’re looking forward to seeing the impact such initiatives have on up and coming talent.”

This exciting new development will take place over the next three years for completion in 2012. The first stage beginning in September 2009.

* The North West Reference Forecast, Greater Manchester Forecast Model, May 2006.

For more details about the plans, the future of Manchester School of Art and its role in the wider Greater Manchester economy, contact Gareth Hollyman in the MMU Press Office 0161 247 3406 07748 111322 g.hollyman@mmu.ac.uk, or Professor David Crow at the School 0161 247 1701, d.crow@mmu.ac.uk.

For current or enrolling students who want to know more about how the plans will effect their studies, please click here