Facilities

The Schools is an integral part of Burlington House,
primarily known for the main galleries of the Royal Academy. The Schools comprises purpose-built studios, predominantly all on ground level, allowing easy access for delivery of materials, moving work etc. The studios have excellent natural light, with high, vaulted ceilings. Studios are organised to allow as much flexibility as possible and to encourage an open-plan approach to the available space.

The workshops are co-ordinated and run on a daily basis by the Head of Workshop who offers technical expertise in most sculptural media, in addition to advising on the production of stretchers for painting. The sculpture workshop includes a compressor with a range of air tools, mig, arc and spot welding, plasma cutter, metal cut-off saw, oxyacetylene hot rubber melting machine, top-loading medium-sized kiln and pug mill, and walk-in spray booth. The wood workshop has circular saws, fret, band and vertical cutters in addition to a linesher, tenoner, morticer and Morso mitre cutter.

The Schools has the country’s oldest purpose-built life drawing studio, and models are available to students with a particular interest in this practice. Printmaking facilities include a wide range of traditional techniques as well as the latest digital printing technology, using archival standard inks. The Epson suite has Apple Mac computers and supports digital media including large format inkjet printing as well as time-based media. There is an additional darkroom available for making black and white prints.

A variety of photographic and video equipment is available to students on a loan booking system. A project space is available for short-term bookings to facilitate projects which need more room outside of the allocated studio spaces. Students are able to access the internet through the Schools’ media centre, located in the entrance to the studio corridor.

A subsidised canteen provides freshly prepared meals - breakfast and lunch - on a daily basis, Monday to Friday. A newly refurbished Schools bar, which is run by students, opens daily between 6 and 8pm.

Library

The Royal Academy's art collection and library house a comprehensive collection of books, exhibition catalogues, monographs and periodicals on international contemporary and historical art. Publications on any subject related to practice or research needs can be obtained on inter-library loan. Students also have access to the special library collections, which include examples of early-printed and illustrated books, as well as the permanent collections of paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings and photographs.

Contact details for further information
Telephone +44 (0)20 7300 5857
Fax +44 (0)20 7300 5856
Email schools@royalacademy.org.uk