Chelsea College of Art and Design

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The former Royal Army Medical College (north block shown here), is being absorbed by Chelsea College of Art and Design. This is one of three large blocks, providing much-needed space. (October 2005)

The Chelsea College of Art and Design, the erstwhile Chelsea School of Art (1928-2001), is one of the University of the Arts London's six constituent colleges, albeit one of the world's premier schools of art and design. It offers both further and higher education courses up to postgraduate level.

The college was founded in 1891 and alongside its stablemates is seen as something of a dying breed in the UK. Having once spanned four sites, the particularly notable Fine Art department being based on Manresa Road, just off the Kings Road, SW3, the college has now set up camp in Pimlico having made the decisive transition for the academic year of 2004-05.

The substantial notable alumni contrasts with a modest student intake of 1,500 on site in any one year. At Chelsea, students are taught by teachers highly respected in the art world, such as artists Roger Ackling, Angela De La Cruz, Alexis Harding, and Gina Medcalf.

The college is presently (ie., as of 2005) huddled next to London's Tate Britain gallery on Millbank. It is a sister college of the Camberwell College of Art and Design, Central St Martins, London College of Communication, and London College of Fashion. It also has links with Byam Shaw School of Art and more recently, Wimbledon College of Art.

Cheslea Space and The Triangle Gallery are on-site exhibition spaces showing work by students and professionals, which are open to the public.