Facilities at Kingston School of Art

The Design Museum describes Kingston School of Art's studio and workshop suite as 'a world class design facility'.

We have invested heavily in the facilities to date and completed an award-winning £32m refurbishment and extension in 2020. Our new Town House holds our professional dance and drama studios as well as performance and event spaces.

Students can borrow a wide range of resources for conducting practical work, such as cameras, digital camcorders and tripods, PA systems, microphones, voice recorders, laptops, etc. and can also book specialist rooms for audio recording, film editing and broadcast media.

This comprehensive workshop and studio provision underpins three of our key principles:

Thinking through making

We believe that students learn most about ideas, materials and techniques by being experimental practitioners. We therefore encourage maximum participation in creating tangible objects. Students use this to understand their medium and find a unique identity for their work.

Analogue to digital

We believe that students gain a true and deep understanding of making if given access to a spectrum of processes, from historic and traditional to contemporary and experimental. Consequently, we provide a vast range of tools and methodologies to explore and combine, from blacksmithing to laser cutting.

Collaboration

We believe that students – and ideas – are stimulated by sharing concepts and approaches, and by collaborating with people whose perspective is different. Therefore, we ensure all facilities are open to all Kingston School of Art students, regardless of their chosen field of study.

I was blown away by the quality of the facilities. The breadth of disciplines catered for is very impressive... the best workshop in a UK university.

Ian Hunter, Director of The Materials Council

Ian Hunter, Director of The Materials Council