Leeds College of Art and Design

Leeds College of Art and Design is a specialist arts further and higher education institution, based in the city of Leeds in northern England, with a main campus opposite the University of Leeds. It was founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art. From 1968 to 1993 it was known as Jacob Kramer College - having lost part of its provision to Leeds Polytechnic (the future Leeds Metropolitan University) - prior to being incorporated into its present guise.

The College of Art today has sites at both Blenheim Walk and in the City Centre, and offers B.A. (Hons) degrees. These degrees are currently validated by the University of Leeds, but the University is withdrawing from this arrangement and in future validation will be by the Open University. Like many of the 'traditional' British art schools, it has a modest annual intake, currently at 640 higher education students a year.

It is also a college in good financial shape - presently in the black, according to "The Independent" newspaper. Its current principal is Edmund Wigan.

The college also welcomes international students.

Notable Alumni

* Kenneth Armitage, sculptor
* Alison Britton OBE, Ceramics Tutor at the Royal College of Art
* Ralph Brown, sculptor
* Diz Disley, musician and graphic artist
* Marcus Harvey, artist
* Barbara Hepworth, sculptor
* Damien Hirst, 1995 Turner Prize winner
* Henry Moore, sculptor
* Peter Murphy, Stuckist artist
* Stass Paraskos, painter and founder of the Cyprus College of Art
* Bob Peck, actor
* Vivian Pitchforth, artist
* Scritti Politti, singer-songwriter
* Joash Woodrow, painter
* Ricky Wilson, lead singer of indie band Kaiser Chiefs

Courses: Further Education

* BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design
* BTEC National Diploma in Art & Design
* BTEC National Diploma in Fashion and Textiles

* Foundation Diploma in Art and Design - one of the largest in the country, with 250 students validated by the University of the Arts London

Courses: Higher Education

The college is one of the ever growing centres that offer various Higher Education courses. The courses are in the design region with many students from Further Education level at the college deciding to pursue their education at a higher level at the college rather than the traditional university.

Honours Degrees

* BA Visual Communications
* BA Graphic Design
* BA Fashion
* BA Art & Design
* BA Fine Art
* BA 3D Design (Furniture)
* BA Printed Textiles
* BA/FD Advertising
* BA/FD Design for Digital Media
* BA/FD Furniture Making

The college offers Foundation Degrees in areas such as Advertising and digital-media that with successful completion can lead to an additional year to progress to a full BA Degree.

External links

* [http://www.leeds-art.ac.uk College site]