Leeds Arts University is a specialist arts further and higher education institution, based in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, with a main campus opposite the University of Leeds.
History
It was founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art. From 1968 to 1993 it was known as Jacob Kramer College, after Jacob Kramer, having lost part of its provision to Leeds Polytechnic (the future Leeds Beckett University). It was known as Leeds College of Art and Design until 2009, and then as Leeds College of Art. In August 2017, the school was granted university status and the name was changed to Leeds Arts University.
Skin, DJ, fashion icon, actress, activist and lead singer of Skunk Anansie, was appointed as the university's chancellor in 2021.
Locations
The University today has city centre sites at Blenheim Walk and at Vernon Street.
Academic profile
Further education courses
Extended Diploma in Creative Practice Foundation Diploma in Art & Design - one of the largest in the country, with 280 students validated by the University of the Arts London
Undergraduate courses BA (Hons) Acting For Screen BA (Hons) Animation BA (Hons) Comic & Concept Art BA (Hons) Creative Advertising BA (Hons) Creative Writing BA (Hons) Fashion Branding with Communication BA (Hons) Fashion Design BA (Hons) Fashion Photography BA (Hons) Filmmaking BA (Hons) Fine Art BA (Hons) Graphic Design BA (Hons) Illustration BA (Hons) Photography BMus (Hons) Popular Music Performance BA (Hons) Textile Design BA (Hons) Visual Communication
Postgraduate courses
MA Animation MA Creative Practice MA Fine Art MA Graphic Design MA Illustration and Graphic Novel MA Photography
Student body
Like many of the 'traditional' British art schools, it has a modest annual intake, at higher education students in . Out of UK higher education institutions, it is the largest.
Notable alumni
Norman Ackroyd (1938–2024), artist Sam Ainsley (b. 1950), artist Kenneth Armitage (1916–2002), sculptor Glyn Banks, co-founder of Art in Ruins art practice James Bateman (1893–1959), painter Glen Baxter (b. 1944), artist Trevor Bell (1930–2017), artist Alison Britton (b. 1948), ceramics tutor at the Royal College of Art Henry Carr (1894–1970), painter and war artist Michael Chapman (1941–2021), guitarist, musician and singer Paul Clark (b. 1962), musician Elisabeth Collins (1904–2000), painter and sculptor Raymond Coxon (1896–1997), painter Diz Disley (1931–2010), musician and graphic artist Leigh Francis (b. 1973), comedian Marcus Harvey (b. 1963), painter Barbara Hepworth (1903–1975), sculptor Damien Hirst (b. 1965), artist and 1995 Turner Prize winner Jocelyn Horner (1902–1973), sculptor Thomas Houseago (b. 1972), sculptor Percy Hague Jowett (1882–1955), artist and arts administrator Vivien Knight (1953–2009), art historian and gallerist Jacob Kramer (1892–1962), painter Edna Lumb (1931–1992), painter Henry Moore (1898–1986), sculptor Peter Murphy (b. 1959), Stuckist artist Stass Paraskos (1933–2014), painter and founder of the Cyprus College of Art Bob Peck (1945–1999), actor Vivian Pitchforth (1895–1982), artist Adrian Riley (b. 1971), artist and designer Victor Sloan (b. 1945), visual artist Bernard Schottlander (1924–1999), sculptor Ria Sharma (b. 1992), founder of Make Love Not Scars Georgina Starr (b. 1968), artist Cecil Stephenson (1889–1965), artist Frankie Vaughan (1928–1999), singer Hilda Annetta Walker (1877–1960), artist Harold Sandys Williamson (1892–1978), painter Trevor Winkfield (b. 1944), painter and writer Joash Woodrow (1927–2006), painter
References
External links University site LCAD University and College Union (UCU) Branch Exhibitions information