Posted Thursday 4 December 2014
Spearheaded by academic experts from the University's Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, the project will explore the stories and personalities connected with the art school, originally founded in 1875. Five exhibitions will be staged across the borough between January and March next year, showcasing work made by the institution's artists, architects and designers. School children and family groups will also be able to soak up more information about the talent and creativity nurtured in its studios and lecture theatres over the years through a series of 20 workshops, an Art School Takeover day and specially themed storytelling, fashion, film, performance and music events. The packed programme of activity will be hosted at a number of venues including Kingston Museum, the Rose Theatre, the Stanley Picker Gallery, Dorich House Museum and the Faculty's very own Platform Gallery at Knights Park.
The initiative will also leave a lasting legacy for art and design enthusiasts through the production of a film capturing the evolution of the art school and the acquisition of additional works and memorabilia from days gone by. More than 40 volunteers will be involved in archiving, interviewing, curating and film-making during the project, with their work set to be added to the ever expanding Kingston School of Art collection and held in an online archive.
A purpose built art school, at what is now Kingston University's Knights Park campus and home to its Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture, opened its doors to students in 1939. Its glittering line-up of graduates includes painter John Randall Bratby, artists Fiona Banner and Anya Gallaccio, artist and designer Helen Storey, artist, filmmaker and writer Stewart Home, architect David Chipperfield, product and furniture designers Jasper Morrison and James Irvine, and fashion expert and television personality Caryn Franklin.
Project leader Professor Fran Lloyd, a specialist in art history based at the University's Visual and Material Culture Research Centre, is confident the venture will uncover a wealth of additional information about the art school's origins. "We are absolutely delighted to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund for this ambitious project which will bring together those with a passion for the arts with people who may have less detailed knowledge of the subject area," she said. "Through it, we will not only be able to demonstrate what a significant role academic experts, students and graduates from the Kingston School of Art played during a bygone era but also showcase more of the work that sees them deservedly held in such high repute locally, nationally and internationally to this very day."
Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said the project would fill an important gap in knowledge about the art heritage of Kingston upon Thames. "It will involve the community in research that will uncover a fascinating history of artistic and design achievements over many years," she added.
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