Historical Developments

Transition on the Thames

The more recent history of Chelsea has involved further restructuring, in line with emerging practices in the creative arts, education, and management. This also coincides with the acquisition by The London Institute of university status, and its subsequent adoption of the title University of the Arts London in spring 2004.

The Polytechnic Era

The first Chelsea School of Art was a significant faculty of The South-Western Polytechnic (later to become Chelsea Polytechnic) which opened in 1895 on Manresa Road and Chelsea Square. This is the area of London where many artists and craftsmen, over the preceding three decades, had moved into the satellite studios and workshops which were originally installed to create The Great Exhibition of 1851.

The curriculum was predominantly vocational - "commercial art", illustration, textiles, etching, lithography and architecture. Under H. S. Williamson, 'headmaster' 1930-1958, a sculpture department was soon founded and then a painting department in the decade after World War Two.

Distinguished artists of the day were employed as teachers - notably, Henry Moore, Graham Sutherland and Ceri Richard. Alumni from this period included Elizabeth Frink, Edward Burra, Patrick Caulfield, Ethel Walker, Dirk Bogarde, Adrian Berg, Robert Clatworthy, John Latham and John Berg

BAID Unit 4 Research

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