Royal Academy Schools Prospectus
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Applications for the 2020/2021 Postgraduate Programme are now closed.
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The Royal Academy Schools thrives on the commitment and intellectual inquiry of its students. Our aim is to provide an environment in which you can test and re-evaluate your practice in dialogue with a diverse group of contemporary artists. The programme is full-time, with lectures, group critiques, tutorials and artist talks given each week. Students attend and contribute to these activities, alongside the production of studio work. As a student at the RA Schools you will form part of a diverse group of motivated artists who aim to develop their work in an environment of discussion and investigation.
Tuition and studio space is free, and the RA Schools offers additional financial support through bursaries and contributions to the cost of some materials. This support does not fully cover the cost of living and studying in London and most students undertake part-time work outside of their commitments to the course.
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![Studying at the RA Schools]()
Studying at the RA Schools
Our high tutor-to-student ratio ensures that each artist’s individual practice is subject to in-depth discussion.
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Things to know before you apply
This is a full-time, studio-based course
During your three years at the RA Schools, you will have a shared open-plan studio space, whatever the nature of your practice. You will also have access to specialist workshops in a range of media, access to instruction in new skills, plus technical support in realising projects.
Peer learning is essential
The students and staff at the RA Schools represents a diverse range of positions and approaches. Students work closely with one another, with an emphasis on constructive critique and peer learning.
All students attend weekly lectures and artists talks
A programme of lectures, group critiques and tutorials, alongside talks from visiting artists, form the structure of the working week and expose students to new voices and methodologies. In addition to core staff you will meet visiting artists for one-to-one tutorials.
Each year group has a designated Senior Lecturer
These lecturers will work closely with you and your peers: Year 1 Margarita Gluzberg Year 2 Richard Kirwan Year 3 Brian Griffiths
RA Schools Renewal
Candidates applying from October 2020 onwards should be aware that, from 2022, the RA Schools will undergo significant building work to upgrade its studios and facilities. We will do everything possible to minimise the impact on the RA Schools programme during the building work.
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Facilities
![Wood and sculpture workshops]()
Wood and sculpture workshops
![3D printing]()
3D printing
![Printmaking workshops]()
Printmaking workshops
![Photographic dark room]()
Photographic dark room
![Digital media suite]()
Digital media suite
![Bookable project spaces]()
Bookable project spaces
![Ceramics workshops]()
Ceramics workshops
![Epson digital suite]()
Epson digital suite
![Royal Academy Library]()
Royal Academy Library
![Studios]()
Studios
![Social spaces]()
Social spaces
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Staff
Keeper of the Royal Academy
Cathie Pilkington RACurator + Director of RA Schools
Eliza Bonham CarterSenior Lecturers
Margarita Gluzberg
Brian Griffiths
Richard KirwanHead of Fine Art Processes
Mark HampsonProgramme + Alumni Engagement Manager
David Cooper -
Sculpture Workshop Manager
Richard ElliottSculpture Workshop Assistants
Martha ToddPrint Tutors
Guler Ates
Leigh Clarke
Madalina ZahariaDigital Media Tutor
James IrwinPhotography Tutor
Maciej Urbanek -
Professors
Professor of Anatomy
Roger L KneeboneProfessor of Architecture
Farshid Moussavi RAProfessor of Chemistry
Bronwyn OrmsbyProfessor of Computer Vision
Roberto CipollaEranda Professor of Drawing
Alison Wilding RAProfessor of Painting
Lubaina Himid RAProfessor of Perspective
Fiona Banner RAProfessor of Sculpture
Mike Nelson RAVisiting Professors
Henry Rogers
Elisabeth van Odijk
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![RA Schools lecture with Humphrey Ocean RA]()
Lectures
Delivered by key thinkers, writers, scientists, cultural theorists and film-makers, the lecture series covers theoretical, philosophical and political ground. 2019 speakers:
Andreas Reiter Raabe Bob Mills Chris Kraus Dawn Ades Donna McCormack Esther Leslie Farshid Moussavi RA (Professor of Architecture) Federico Campagna Humphrey Ocean RA (Professor of Perspective) Laura Benitez Valero Laura Vallés Mark Pomeroy Pandora Blake Roberto Cipolla Roger Cook Samuel McAuliffe
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![A lecture by Donna McCormack in the RA Schools Life Room]()
Artist talks
A programme of talks, screenings, performance, selected and invited by the 2019 second year group. Last year’s artist talks:
Aaron Angell Alex da Corte Alicja Rogalska Athanasios Argianas Bedwyr Williams Celine Condoreli Christina Mackie Dale Holmes Ghislaine Leung Greta Alfaro Haegue Yang Heath Bunting Kelly Lloyd Marianna Simnett Onkar Kular Shezad Dawood Tonico Lemos Auad Yoshua Okon
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![Crits at the RA Schools]()
Crits
In 2019, students presented their work to their peers and the following artists:
Alastair Mackinven Alex Frost Allison Katz Andrew Hunt Aura Satz Chantal Faust Claire Hooper Clarrie Wallis Clunie Reid Dan Perfect Fionna Banner Gina Buenfeld Johnny Slyce Lee Triming Neil Rumming Paul Clinton Sara Knowland Saskia Olde-Wolbers Stuart Middleton Tom Morton
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Tutorials
Adham Faramawy Alex da Corte Alice Theobald Alison Wilding RA Ana Genoves Catherine Story Cathie Pilkington RA (Professor of Sculpture) Chantal Joffe RA (Professor of Painting) Clunie Reid Danielle Braithewaite-Shirley Danny Rolph
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Gili Tal Harold Offeh Janette Parris John Cussans John Russell Johnny Golding Katharina Hoeglinger Lindsay Seers Mark Leckey Michael Landy Michelle Williams Gamaker
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Milena Dragicevic Nicole Wermers Phoebe Unwin Sacha Craddock Samara Scott Sarah Jones Shaan Tariq Hassan Syed Simeon Barclay Tom Chamberlain Uta Kogelsberger Vanessa Jackson RA
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Exhibitions
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![RA Schools exhibitions]()
Exhibitions
Premiums
An exhibition of work by the artists in their second year is held in the galleries of the Royal Academy during spring term, marking the halfway point of the programme. This is an opportunity to make decisions, evaluate your progress and work as a group to install the show. This show is called Premiums.
RA Schools Show
At the end of your third year the RA Schools’ studios are transformed into large exhibition spaces that attract thousands of visitors and professional scrutiny. -
![RA Schools student]()
Texts
The text component of the programme is an opportunity to explore and research ideas that arise in the studio in written form.
A short written text, supported by an invited artist-writer and your year tutor, is completed during the first year of the programme.
In the second year, you will receive individual tutorials and feedback sessions to assist in the production of a longer text. This work is completed during the summer period prior to the third year of the programme, and presented to your peers in the first term of the third year.
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![Jessy Jetpacks sits in front of Yayoi Kusama's ‘Pumpkin’ on Naoshima Island, Japan, during her student exchange at The University of the Arts, Tokyo.]()
Travel opportunities
While at the RA Schools you can apply for a number of short-term exchanges and residencies. Currently these include Tokyo University of the Arts (Geidai) and Red Mansion Foundation Residency, Beijing, China.
There are also further opportunities to travel to America for shorter investigative visits.
We also organise an annual, subsidised group study visit - in recent years to Documenta in Kassel, Frankfurt, New York, Istanbul, Berlin, Rome and Venice.
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