University of the Arts London
The University of the Arts London is a university located in London, England, that focuses on the visual arts, design, fashion, and the performing arts as its primary areas of study. The Camberwell College of Arts, Central Saint Martins, Chelsea College of Arts, the London College of Communication, the London College of Fashion, and the Wimbledon College of Arts are the six art schools that make up this federation. In 2003, the institution was given the status of university status, and in 2004, it was given its current name.
The London Institute was established in 1986 as a result of the merger of seven formerly autonomous art, design, fashion, and media schools. This was done for the goal of streamlining administrative processes. The university traces its roots back to this institute. They were the Central School of Art and Design, Saint Martin's School of Art, Chelsea School of Art. The founding of the colleges occurred between the middle of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century.
The London Institute was consolidated into a single legal body as a result of the Education Reform Act of 1988, and the first court of governors was established in 1989, the year after the act was passed. John McKenzie was the first person to be appointed to the position of rector. The Privy Council gave the institution the authority to confer degrees on students in the year 1993. After McKenzie stepped down from his position as rector in 1996, Sir William Stubbs was selected to fill the role. In the year 1998, the institution was presented with a coat of arms. In 1999, Will Wyatt was selected to serve as chairman of the board of governors, and in 2000, Lord Stevenson of Coddenham was established as the institution's first chancellor.
Sir Michael Bichard was chosen as the new rector of the London Institute in 2001, after William Stubbs' retirement. Sir Michael Bichard was a proponent of the institution's pursuit of university status. At first, the London Institute decided not to submit an application due to the fact that each of its institutions already had an impressive worldwide reputation on their own. After receiving authorization from the Privy Council to become a university in 2003, the London Institute became known as the University of the Arts London the following year.
After becoming a part of the university in 2006 as the sixth college, the previous name of Wimbledon School of Art was changed to Wimbledon College of Arts. In 2007, Sir John Tusa was given the role of chairman, succeeding Will Wyatt in that role. In 2008, Nigel Carrington was appointed to the position of rector, taking the place of Michael Bichard.
Between the years 2008 and 2010, a number of employees were let go, and courses were discontinued. Of the London College of Communication, staff members resigned and students marched and staged a sit-in in protest of the reduction in funding and staff numbers. In 2009, 16 of the 19 courses were eliminated from the curriculum at the institution.
In June of 2011, Central Saint Martins relocated to King's Cross, where it now resides in a purpose-built facility.
Grayson Perry was given the position of chancellor of the institution in 2015, taking over for Kwame Kwei-Armah in that role.
Nigel Carrington will be succeeded as Vice Chancellor and President by James Purnell, whose appointment takes effect in March 2021.