You searched for scholarships - Courtauld / Wed, 08 Jul 2026 15:15:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.5 Paintings by Picasso, Magritte and Man Ray to go on display at the Courtauld Gallery as part of a major partnership with the Reuben Foundation /about-us/press-office/press-releases/paintings-by-picasso-magritte-and-man-ray-to-go-on-display-at-the-courtauld-gallery/ Tue, 23 Jun 2026 08:27:14 +0000 /?page_id=171446 The post Paintings by Picasso, Magritte and Man Ray to go on display at the Courtauld Gallery as part of a major partnership with the Reuben Foundation appeared first on Courtauld.

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Press images:

A new display,Modern Painting from the Courtauld and ReubenCollections, made possible by the long-term partnership between the Courtauld and the Reuben Foundation, will open at the Courtauld Gallery on18 September 2026.

Featuring outstanding works by Cezanne, Modigliani, Léger, Picasso, and Magritte, the display explores radicalnew approachesto painting in the first half of the 20th century.

The Courtauld’s partnership with the Reuben Foundation,launched in 2025,enables worksof artfrom the ReubenCollectiontobe made available to the publicas part of the Courtauld Gallery’sdisplays. Itallows theGallery to extend its celebratedpresentationof Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art into the modern period.

In October 2025, the Courtauld announced the largest financial gift in its history from the Reuben Foundation,echoing the extraordinary philanthropy of the Courtauld’s founder, Samuel Courtauld. The Foundationissupporting the developmentofthe Courtauld’s new Strand campus,which, when it opens in 2029, willbeone oftheworld’smost important centresfor the study ofthehistory of art.

Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collectionsbegins with early 20th century paintings from the Courtauld,including PauléԲԱ’sTurning Road(1905), a landscape conjured through near-abstract patches ofcolour, and Amedeo Modigliani’sNude(c.1916), a radically direct and expressive painting that upended conventional approaches to the subject of the female nude. These set the stage for works from the Reuben Collection by painters who built on such innovations to chart new artistic directions.

Major Cubist works by Juan Gris and Fernand Léger from 1914-1918, a period of significant avant-garde experimentation in Europe, tookéԲԱ’spatchwork of brushstrokes to new extremes. They broke the illusion of representational painting by depicting their subjects as fragmented parts,seemingly stillin the process of beingformed. A highlight of this area of the display is Man Ray’s monumentalBlack Widow (Nativity), painted in New York in 1915, and lastexhibitedin the UK more than fifty years ago. Although celebrated asamodernist photographer, Man Ray began his career as a painter. With this, one of his most significant early works, he created an epic modern figure painting out of Cubism and painted collage.

A group of three paintings by Pablo Picasso from the period of the Second World Wardemonstratethe artist’s continual reinvention of the traditions of painting. Picasso’s two portraits of his partners,Marie-Thérèse Walter, 1937, and the photographerDora Maar, 1939, neither previouslyexhibitedin this country, challenge and transform classical conventions of portraiture. The latter work offers a raw and unsettling image of Maar during the war. They are shown alongside his remarkableStill Life with Basket of Fruits and Flowers(1942); its spiky and fraught depiction of its humble objects powerfully expressing the tenor of wartime Paris.

The Reuben Collection holds a significant collection of works by the Surrealist artist René Magritte. Some of Magritte’s most famous compositions are included in this display, such asThe Dominion of LightandThe Intimate Friend. Both works date from the 1950s and are characteristically elusive juxtapositions that offer the promise of new and unexpected meanings, such as a nocturnal scene under a sunlit sky, or the artist’s iconic bowler-hatted man, overlaid with a wine glass and baguette. Magritte’sLa DomaineArnheim, 1949, is a further highlight of this group. Its surreal image of a landscape through a shattered window is an encapsulation of the transformations and reinventions of modern painting since the time oféԲԱ.

The Courtauld Gallery has grown historically through the generosity of private individuals who haveendowed it with the remarkable collections they formed. This tradition of philanthropy,initiatedat the Gallery by Samuel Courtauld in the 1930s, continues to extend and enhancethe Courtauld Gallery’s world-famous collections.In recent years,the Courtauld Galleryhasalsoenriched itsdisplayswith works of artloanedto it fromother collections,includinga group of paintings fromthe Oskar Reinhart Collectionandexceptional works from the Barber Institute of Fine Artin Birmingham.

Modern Painting from the Courtauld and ReubenCollections
Opening 18 September 2026
Katja and Nicolai Tangen 20th Century Gallery, Floor 3

/whats-on/exh-modern-painting-from-the-courtauld-and-reuben-collections/

Courtauld Gallery, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN 
Opening hours: 10:00 – 18:00 (last entry 17:15).
Weekday and weekend tickets from £12. Courtauld Members and Under-18s go free. Other concessions available.

MEDIA CONTACTS
Courtauld

media@courtauld.ac.uk 

Bolton& Quinn
Erica Bolton | erica@boltonquinn.com | +44 (0)20 7221 5000
Daisy Taylor | daisy@boltonquinn.com | +44 (0)20 7221 5000

SOCIAL MEDIA – COURTAULD 
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NOTES TO EDITORS 

About the Courtauld
The Courtauld works to advance how we see and understand the visual arts, as an internationally renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history and a major public gallery. Founded by collectors and philanthropists in 1932, the organisation has been at the forefront of the study of art ever since through advanced research and conservation practice, innovative teaching, the renowned collection and inspiring exhibitions of its gallery, and engaging and accessible activities, education and events. 

The Courtauld Gallery cares for one of the greatest art collections in the UK, presenting these works to the public at the Courtauld Gallery in central London, as well as through loans and partnerships. The Gallery is most famous for its iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces – such as Van Gogh’s Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear and Manet’s A Bar at theFolies-Bergère. It showcases these alongside an internationally renowned collection of works from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance through to the present day. 

Academically, the 鶹TVվ is the largest community of art historians and conservators in the UK, teaching and conducting research on subjects ranging from creativity in late Antiquity to contemporary digital art forms – with an increasingly global focus. An independent college of the University of London, the Courtauld offers a range of degree programmes from BA to PhD in the History of Art, curating, art and business and theconservation of easel and wall paintings. Its alumni are leaders and innovators in the arts, culture and business worlds, helping to shape the global agenda for the arts and creative industries. 

Founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to engage with art, the Courtauld works to increase understanding of the role of art throughout history, across all societies and geographies, and to champion its importance in the present day. This could be through exhibitions offering a chance to look closely at world-famous works; events bringing art history research to new audiences; accessible short courses; digital engagement, innovative school, family, and community programmes; or taking a formal qualification. The Courtauld’s ambition is to transform access to art history education, ensuring as many people as possible canbenefitfrom the tools it offers to better understand the visual world around us. 

The Courtauld is an exempt charity and relies on generous philanthropic support to achieve its mission of advancing the understanding of the visual arts of the past and present across the world through advanced research, innovative teaching, inspiring exhibitions, programmes and collections. 

The collection cared for by the Courtauld Gallery is owned by the Samuel Courtauld Trust. 

About the Reuben Foundation

Formed in 2002, the Reuben Foundation is a UK charitable foundation focused on the advancement of healthcare, education and the community both in the UK and globally.

Recent projects include the Reuben Scholarship Programme, whichassiststhousands of the most talented students from less advantaged backgrounds with financial support towards university living costs. The Reuben Scholarships Programme runs in partnership with the Universities of Oxford,Cambridgeand Ark Schools. In 2020 the Reuben Foundation made a transformational gift to establish Reuben College at the University of Oxford, marking only the 39th college in the university’s near-1,000-year history and the first new college at the university for 30 years.

In the healthcare space gifts include the creation of the largest centre for paediatric cancer treatment in Europe at Great Ormond Street Hospital, a world-leading treatment and research centre at The Royal Marsden Hospital, and a new maternity ward and neonatal intensive care unit at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital as well as a new young people’s centre designed to provide immediate, specialist and integrated care to young people in mental health crisis.

Further information on the Reuben Foundation can be found at:

Press Release – Modern Painting from the Courtauld and Reuben Collections

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]]> Devan Shimoyama in conversation with Alex Bispham and Pia Gottschaller /whats-on/devon-shimoyama-in-conversation-with-jo-applin-alex-bispham-and-pia-gottschaller/ Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:00:06 +0000 /?post_type=events&p=165838 Join artist Devan Shimoyama for an in conversation on his artistic practice, weaving together popular culture, mythological archetypes, and personal narrative through lavishly embellished surfaces

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Devan Shimoyama is no stranger to excess. The artist crafts his own Black, queer mythology in bright colours and lavishly embellished surfaces. Within his visual lexicon, Shimoyama employs materials like building blocks to construct a space of queer transcendence: glitter, rhinestones, sequins, and fabric.

In his first public talk in the UK, Shimoyama will discuss a range of work that weaves together popular culture, mythological archetypes, and personal narrative. Shimoyama’s Barbershop Project invited members of the public to have their hair cut in a joyous space surrounded by paintings of himself, loved ones, and imagined portraits that reframe the hyper-masculine spaces of his youth. His swing sculptures and hoodies are tributes to victims of racialised gun violence and use silk flowers to evoke spontaneous memorials, celebrating life between permanence and impermanence. The Tarot Series reimagines the twenty-two Major Arcana and takes the artist and the viewer on a “Fool’s journey” via the divinatory cards.

These works seek a through-line between spiritual traditions encompassing his Baptist Christian upbringing, hybrid Black diasporic religions, Egyptian mythology, and more. Nods to popular culture suffuse Shimoyama’s fantasy world, from music (the Princess of R&B, Aaliyah), to poetry (the Jamaican writer Safiya Sinclair), to anime (the television series and manga Sailor Moon). Through these references, he transforms sites of pain into spaces of reverence and remembrance. From folklore to fantasy world-building, Shimoyama amplifies Black queer joy.

Organised by Professor Jo Applin, Alex Bispham, and Dr Pia Gottschaller, as part of the Courtauld Centre for the Art of the Americas.

Speakers:

(b. 1989, Philadelphia) is a multimedia artist based in Pittsburgh, PA, where he has also taught at Carnegie Mellon University. His exhibition Shift is currently on view at Rowan University Art Gallery & Museum. In the United States, his work has been presented in solo exhibitions at the Ulrich Museum of Art, Kavi Gupta Gallery, and the Andy Warhol Museum, as well as at the Kunstpalais Erlangen, CAC Málaga, the Serlachius Museum, Mänttä, and VETA Galeria in Europe.

Alex Bispham is a PhD student at the 鶹TVվ. Working on alternative spirituality, she is seeking to define a queer theory of materials. Devan Shimoyama is among the artists being examined in her thesis, which explores spiritual-artistic practices that disrupt perceived hierarchies of matter/idea, reason/emotion, and high/low art. Alex previously held positions at the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, and Hôtel Drouot.

Pia Gottschaller is a Reader in Technical Art History at the 鶹TVվ, London, where she teaches across art history, conservation and curating. Prior appointments include Senior Research Specialist at the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles; paintings conservator at Tate, London, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and Associate Curator at Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich. She is the recipient of a number of research grants and scholarships, most recently from the Getty Foundation (2021). Her monographs, edited volumes and essays focus on modern and contemporary European, US- and Latin American artists and movements, and her most recent book Unruly Tools: Contemporary Artists and the Reinvention of Painting examines the role of non-conventional tools in global artistic practice.

A mixed-media painting featuring the outlined figure of a person, painted in bright orange hues, with textured hair. A hair clipper is positioned above the head, with its cord, made out of plastic beads, looping around the composition. The background combines wood‑panel textures and light-coloured surfaces. There are costume jewellery elements collaged onto the eyes and cheeks of the figure, as if crying diamonds.
Devan Shimoyama, Kory, 2023, oil, coloured pencil, Flashe, rhinestones, acrylic, collage, jewellery and glitter on canvas stretched over panel, 121.9 x 91.4 cm (48 x 36 in.)

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]]> Day Six /join-and-support/courtauld-fund/day-six/ Sun, 07 Dec 2025 11:00:55 +0000 /?page_id=162576 Hear from Dr Esther Chadwick, Head of History of Art

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Sunday 7 December 2025

With just two days to go to reach our match-fund goal of £75,000, every gift will make a huge difference towards supporting crucial areas of need across the Courtauld.

All donations made to the Courtauld Fund up to midnight on 8 December are being generously matched by the Courtauld Fund Leaders who have pledged to double every pound, dollar, euro you give.

You can double your impact in support of our work, and we can raise £150,000 towards caring for an exceptional art collection, advancing scholarship through world-class teaching and research, and ensuring every student – regardless of background – has the chance to thrive.

Art history teaching is under threat

A new report1 shows a sharp decline in UK schools offering History of Art A-level, with access limited mainly to London and the Southeast. Yet demand is growing, and we believe every young person should have the chance to explore the visual arts. That’s why we’re expanding outreach and funding for students to break down financial barriers.

Here at the Courtauld, teaching art history is at the heart of our mission. From European masterpieces to the arts of Asia, Africa, and the Americas, our world-class faculty inspires students to explore global visual culture in depth. As we prepare to open a new state-of-the-art campus ahead of our centenary in 2032, we’re committed to breaking down barriers and ensuring that future generations can access the transformative power of art history.

Every gift truly makes a difference

Your gift during the Courtauld Fund Challenge Week will help us expand access for schools, inspire young minds through outreach, and fund scholarships for talented students, keeping Samuel Courtauld’s vision of “art for all” alive.

I am supporting this campaign, and I invite you to join me – your gift will keep this vital discipline thriving and accessible for all. Thank you.

Dr Esther Chadwick
Head of History of Art

Other ways to give

Alternatively, you can post a cheque made payable to ‘The 鶹TVվ of Art Fund’ to: Advancement Office, The Courtauld, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN

For donation enquiries, please contact our development team on 020 3947 7777 or email giving@courtauld.ac.uk

American donors can give via the American Foundation for The 鶹TVվ of Art (AFCIA) website at

2025 Courtauld Fund Leaders

TrinityBridge – for their lead gift in support of this campaign
Ambrose and Ann Appelbe Trust
Stuart Lochhead and Sophie Richard
John Wilson (PhD 1992; MA 1984) and Annasue McCleave Wilson
The Zena Trust

The Courtauld would also like to thank all those who wish to remain anonymous.

The 鶹TVվ of Art Fund, a registered charity no. 288509.

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]]> Day Three /join-and-support/courtauld-fund/day-three/ Sat, 06 Dec 2025 19:58:05 +0000 /?page_id=162559 Hear from Hannah Snyder, Students’ Union President

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Thursday 4 December 2025

This week, every gift to the Courtauld Fund Challenge will be matched by our Courtauld Fund Leaders, up to £75,000. This means together we can raise £150,000 in just seven days, our biggest goal ever!

The 鶹TVվ, an independent college of the University of London, offers world-renowned degrees in art history, conservation, curation, and art business. Our graduates go on to lead museums, galleries, and cultural institutions worldwide, reflecting the Courtauld’s enduring legacy of excellence and influence.

Our graduates of the future need your support now

Living in London is expensive, a recent student survey1 found the average student rent now exceeds the maximum student loan. After paying for accommodation, travels and essentials such as food, students on an average loan are £96 in debt each week, which adds up to £3,840 a year. Many students take on extra work to help cover their core costs, which often has a negative impact on their studies and emotional wellbeing.

Every gift makes a difference

Your support helps our students thrive. Here’s what we can achieve together if we reach our goal of £150,000:

£1,000 – £3,000 funds a Courtauld Bursary
£10,000 – £25,000 supports a Courtauld Scholarship
£50,000 would underwrite our Emergency Support Fund

If 30 people gave £100, we’d raise £3,000 – enough to fund a Courtauld Bursary.

Whatever you can give, you’ll help provide scholarships, bursaries, and emergency support so talented students succeed, whatever their background.

Join me and donate to the Courtauld Fund Challenge today.

Thank you for standing with our students.

Hannah Snyder (BA 2025)
Courtauld Students’ Union President

Other ways to give

Alternatively, you can post a cheque made payable to ‘The 鶹TVվ of Art Fund’ to: Advancement Office, The Courtauld, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 0RN

For donation enquiries, please contact our development team on 020 3947 7777 or email giving@courtauld.ac.uk

American donors can give via the American Foundation for The 鶹TVվ of Art (AFCIA) website at

2025 Courtauld Fund Leaders

TrinityBridge – for their lead gift in support of this campaign
Ambrose and Ann Appelbe Trust
Stuart Lochhead and Sophie Richard
John Wilson (PhD 1992; MA 1984) and Annasue McCleave Wilson
The Zena Trust

The Courtauld would also like to thank all those who wish to remain anonymous.

The 鶹TVվ of Art Fund, a registered charity no. 288509.

The post Day Three appeared first on Courtauld.

]]> Courtauld publishes the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History /news-blogs/2025/courtauld-association-for-art-history-report/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 11:02:00 +0000 /?p=161606 The post Courtauld publishes the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History appeared first on Courtauld.

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The Courtauld has today published the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History on the status of art history teaching in UK secondary schools. The report found that:

  • Over the past decade, the number of schools offering History of Art A-level has fallen by 34%, from 122 institutions in 2016 to 80 today.
  • Of the 80 institutions currently offering the A-level, only 19 are state or non-fee-paying schools.
  • There is a significant disparity in geographic provision: within the UK, the subject is offered only in England, with courses concentrated in London and the Southeast, with the North and Southwest severely underrepresented.
  • Despite fewer providers, student numbers have risen, with a 42% increase in A-level candidates between 2019 and 2025, reaching the highest levels since 2016.
  • University enrolment in art history courses has remained stable, showing greater resilience than in some other arts and humanities subjects.
  • Financial pressures threaten the continuation of some school-level History of Art programmes, potentially reversing the recent upward trend in student participation.

The Courtauld has announceda commitment toworkwith nationaleducationand philanthropicpartners tobroaden access to art history forsecondaryschool childrenin the UKin the lead-up to the opening of the new campus, building on Samuel Courtauld’s founding vision of ‘art for all’.This will enrich the Courtauld’sexistingworkinbroadeningaccess to its collection andteachingfor young people,through programmes such asitssummer universityandschoolstours andworkshops.

Supporting this drive toincreaseaccess, the Courtauld is creating anew fundthataims todramatically increase the number of scholarships and bursaries it offersto students. Thisscholarshipfund willbreak down the financial barriers that preventtalentedyoung peoplefromaccessing the Courtauld’s world-class teachingand provide students with life-changing opportunities to advance their knowledge of the visual arts.

Professor Mark Hallett,MäritRausing Director of the Courtauld, said:  “The Courtauld is deeply committed to opening up the understanding and appreciation of art to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. As part of this mission, we look forward to taking a leading role in expanding access to art history at school level in the UK. Art distils and explores the most profound forms of human experience, and we want to ensure that future generations of schoolchildren appreciate the extraordinary benefits of studying the history of art across different periods, including our own.”

Download the report

Association for Art History report 2025

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]]> Courtauld announces plans for new world class campus /news-blogs/2025/courtauld-announces-plans-for-new-world-class-campus/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 10:58:00 +0000 /?p=161599 The post Courtauld announces plans for new world class campus appeared first on Courtauld.

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Today, the Courtauld is delighted to announce plans to create a new world-class campus at Somerset House in London, a major development which will strengthen our position as a leading global centre for the visual arts. 

The Courtauld,founded in 1932 byphilanthropist and collectorSamuel Courtauld,is aninternationally renownedcentre fortheteaching andresearch ofart history,conservationand curation, and is home to one of the world’sgreatest art collections.

As the Courtauld approaches its centenary, this next milestone in our history will see a once-in-a-generation transformation of our historic Grade I listed building at Somerset House, creating a flexible, state-of-the-art campus and securing the Courtauld’s legacy for the next 100 years.

With a masterplan by 2025RIBAStirling Prize-winning architectsWitherfordWatson Mann,and designed in collaboration with Purcell and Lawson Ward Studio, thenew Courtauld Campus is expected to open in 2029.

Witherford Watson Mann completed the major transformation of the Courtauld Gallery in theNorthWingofSomerset House in 2021.This new phaseof developmentwill focus on upgrading and expanding the Courtauld’s remaining space at Somerset House,which willbe newly connectedto a suite of neighbouring townhouses on152-158 Strand. The project will secure the long-term future of these townhouses and see theirhistoricfaçadesbeing elegantly restored.The 鶹TVվ and Gallery willbe reunited, bringingthe Courtauld’sstudents, staff,arthistorians, conservators, curators,visitorsandartcollectiontogetherunder one roof.

The new campus will open directly onto the Strand, connecting the Courtauld to an exciting new cultural and intellectual quarter in the heart ofthe city,alongsideits partnerKing’s CollegeLondon.The campuswill include flexible, modern teaching spaces, a new lecture theatre, and aspectacularlibrary withinSomerset House’shistoric subterranean vaults. 

The development comes at a time when the Courtauld is expanding into new areas of teaching and research, increasing its focus on global geographies such as the Americas, the African diaspora and the arts of Asia. The Courtauld’s curriculum also encompasses the art of Iran and Islam, China and India, whilst maintaining the Institute’s traditional excellence in European art history. The Courtauld has also recently launched a series of new MA programmes, including an MA in Art and Business and an MA in Curating, as it seeks to meet the evolving needs of students and the professional art world.

The Courtauld is also today publishing the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History on the status of art history teaching in UK secondary schools. The report found that:

  • Over the past decade, the number of schools offering History of Art A-level has fallen by 34%, from 122 institutions in 2016 to80today.
  • Of the 80 institutions currently offering the A-level, only 19 are state or non-fee-paying schools.
  • There is a significant disparity in geographic provision: within the UK, the subject is offered only in England, with courses concentrated in London and the Southeast, with the North and Southwest severely underrepresented.
  • Despite fewer providers, student numbers have risen, with a 42% increase in A-level candidates between 2019 and 2025, reaching the highest levels since 2016.
  • University enrolment in art history courses has remained stable, showing greater resilience than in some other arts and humanities subjects.
  • Financial pressures threaten the continuation of some school-level History of Art programmes, potentially reversing the recent upward trend in student participation.

The Courtauld has announceda commitment toworkwith nationaleducationand philanthropicpartners tobroaden access to art history forsecondaryschool childrenin the UKin the lead-up to the opening of the new campus, building on Samuel Courtauld’s founding vision of ‘art for all’.This will enrich the Courtauld’sexistingworkinbroadeningaccess to its collection andteachingfor young people,through programmes such asitssummer universityandschoolstours andworkshops.

Supporting this drive toincreaseaccess, the Courtauld is creating anew fundthataims todramatically increase the number of scholarships and bursaries it offersto students. Thisscholarshipfund willbreak down the financial barriers that preventtalentedyoung peoplefromaccessing the Courtauld’s world-class teachingand provide students with life-changing opportunities to advance their knowledge of the visual arts.

Professor Mark Hallett,MäritRausing Director of the Courtauld, said:  “We are thrilled to announce our plans for a world-class campus for the Courtauld, which will provide our students, staff and visitors with a beautiful and stimulating environment in which to learn about the visual arts.

The Courtauld is also deeply committed to opening up the understanding and appreciation of art to people of all ages and from all backgrounds. As part of this mission, we look forward to taking a leading role in expanding access to art history at school level in the UK. Art distils and explores the most profound forms of human experience, and we want to ensure that future generations of schoolchildren appreciate the extraordinary benefits of studying the history of art across different periods, including our own”.

StephenWitherford, Director ofWitherfordWatson Mann Architects, said:“Our work with the Courtauld has focused on transforming their relationship to the inherited rooms at Somerset House by reimagining the spatial relationships between their teaching, research, collections, and conservation work to radically enhance the collective experience of their students, staff, and audiences. This next phase of the project, delivered in collaboration with Purcell and Lawson Ward Studio Architects, will realise this vision across an expanded, open and more accessible campus.”

The new campus project is made possible through the recent visionary gift from the Reuben Foundation and the generous long-standing support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional transformational support is provided by the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Julia Rausing Trust, Rothschild Foundation, Georgia and David Winter and the Wolfson Foundation. The Courtauld is most grateful to these foundational supporters, alongside others who have already committed to the redevelopment of our home at Somerset House.

Rendering of the new 鶹TVվ entrance. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the new 鶹TVվ entrance. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the Blavatnik Reading Room in the 鶹TVվ Library. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the Blavatnik Reading Room in the 鶹TVվ Library. Image: Secchi Smith

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]]> Courtauld announces plans for new London campus and commitment to broadening access to art history across the UK /about-us/press-office/press-releases/courtauld-announces-plans-for-new-london-campus/ Thu, 27 Nov 2025 09:00:50 +0000 /?page_id=166952 The post Courtauld announces plans for new London campus and commitment to broadening access to art history across the UK appeared first on Courtauld.

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Press imagesare available to download here:

The Courtauld today announced plans to create a new world-class campus at Somerset House in London, a major development which will strengthen the Courtauld’s position as a leading global centre for the visual arts. 

The Courtauld, founded in 1932 by philanthropist and collector Samuel Courtauld, is an internationally renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history, conservation and curation, and is home to one of the world’s greatest art collections.

As it approaches its centenary, this next milestone in the Courtauld’s history will see a once-in-a-generation transformation of its historic Grade I listed building at Somerset House, creating a flexible, state-of-the-art campus and securing its legacy for the next 100 years.

With a masterplan by 2025RIBAStirling Prize-winning architectsWitherfordWatson Mann,and designed in collaboration with Purcell and Lawson Ward Studio, thenew Courtauld Campus is expected to open in 2029.

Witherford Watson Mann completed the major transformation of the Courtauld Gallery in the North Wing of Somerset House in 2021. This new phase of development will focus on upgrading and expanding the Courtauld’s remaining space at Somerset House, which will be newly connected to a suite of neighbouring townhouses on 152-158 Strand. The project will secure the long-term future of these townhouses and see their historic façades being elegantly restored. The 鶹TVվ and Gallery will be reunited, bringing the Courtauld’s students, staff, art historians, conservators, curators, visitors and art collection together under one roof.

The new campus will open directly onto the Strand, connecting the Courtauld to an exciting new cultural and intellectual quarter in the heart of the city, alongside its partner King’s College London. The campus will include flexible, modern teaching spaces, a new lecture theatre, and a spectacular library within Somerset House’s historic subterranean vaults.

The development comes at a time when the Courtauld is expanding into new areas of teaching and research, increasing its focus on global geographies such as the Americas, the African diaspora and the arts of Asia. The Courtauld’s curriculum also encompasses the art of Iran and Islam, China and India, whilst maintaining the Institute’s traditional excellence in European art history. The Courtauld has also recently launched a series of new MA programmes, including an MA in Art and Business and an MA in Curating, as it seeks to meet the evolving needs of students and the professional art world.

The new campus project is made possible through the recent visionary gift from the Reuben Foundation and the generous long-standing support of the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional transformational support is provided by the Deborah Loeb Brice Foundation, the Clore Duffield Foundation, the Garfield Weston Foundation, Oak Foundation, The Julia Rausing Trust, Rothschild Foundation, Georgia and David Winter and the Wolfson Foundation. The Courtauld is most grateful to these foundational supporters, alongside others who have already committed to the redevelopment of our home at Somerset House.

Rendering of the new 鶹TVվ entrance. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the new 鶹TVվ entrance. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the Blavatnik Reading Room in the 鶹TVվ Library. Image: Secchi Smith
Rendering of the Blavatnik Reading Room in the 鶹TVվ Library. Image: Secchi Smith

The Courtauld is also today publishing the findings of a new report by the Association for Art History on the status of art history teaching in UK secondary schools. The report found that:

  • Over the past decade, the number of schools offering History of Art A-level has fallen by 34%, from 122 institutions in 2016 to 80 today.
  • Of the 80 institutions currently offering the A-level, only 19 are state or non-fee-paying schools.
  • There is a significant disparity in geographic provision: within the UK, the subject is offered only in England, with courses concentrated in London and the Southeast, with the North and Southwest severely underrepresented.
  • Despite fewer providers, student numbers have risen, with a 42% increase in A-level candidates between 2019 and 2025, reaching the highest levels since 2016.
  • University enrolment in art history courses has remained stable, showing greater resilience than in some other arts and humanities subjects.
  • Financial pressures threaten the continuation of some school-level History of Art programmes, potentially reversing the recent upward trend in student participation.

The Courtauld has announceda commitment toworkwith nationaleducationand philanthropicpartners tobroaden access to art history forsecondaryschool childrenin the UKin the lead-up to the opening of the new campus, building on Samuel Courtauld’s founding vision of ‘art for all’.This will enrich the Courtauld’sexistingworkinbroadeningaccess to its collection andteachingfor young people,through programmes such asitssummer universityandschoolstours andworkshops.

Supporting this drive toincreaseaccess, the Courtauld is creating anew fundthataims todramatically increase the number of scholarships and bursaries it offersto students. Thisscholarshipfund willbreak down the financial barriers that preventtalentedyoung peoplefromaccessing the Courtauld’s world-class teachingand provide students with life-changing opportunities to advance their knowledge of the visual arts.

Professor Mark Hallett,MäritRausing Director of the Courtauld, said: “We are thrilled to announce our plans for a world-class campus for the Courtauld, which will provide our students,staffand visitorswith abeautiful and stimulating environment in which tolearn about the visual arts.The Courtauld isalso deeply committed toopening upthe understanding and appreciation of art topeopleof all agesand from all backgrounds.As part of this mission, we look forward to takinga leading roleinexpanding access to art history at school levelin the UK. Artdistils and exploresthe most profound forms of human experience, and we want to ensure that future generations of schoolchildrenappreciatethe extraordinary benefits of studyingthe history of artacrossdifferentperiods, including our own”.

StephenWitherford, Director ofWitherfordWatson Mann Architects, said:“Our work with the Courtauld has focused on transforming their relationship to the inherited rooms at Somerset House by reimagining the spatial relationships between their teaching, research, collections, and conservation work to radically enhance the collective experience of their students, staff, and audiences. This next phase of the project, delivered in collaboration with Purcell and Lawson Ward Studio Architects, will realise this vision across an expanded,openand more accessible campus”.

Media Contacts:

Bolton & Quinn 
erica@boltonquinn.com
0207 221 5000
07711 698 186 

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/about-us/press-office/
media@courtauld.ac.uk į

Notes to Editors: 

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The Courtauld works to advance how we see and understand the visual arts, as an internationally renowned centre for the teaching and research of art history and a major public gallery. Founded by collectors and philanthropists in 1932, the organisation has been at the forefront of the study of art ever since through advanced research and conservation practice, innovative teaching, the renowned collection and inspiring exhibitions of its gallery, and engaging and accessible activities, education and events. 

The CourtauldGallerycares for one of the greatest art collections in the UK, presenting these works to the public atthe Courtauld Gallery in central London, as well as through loans and partnerships. The Gallery is most famous for its iconic Impressionist and Post-Impressionist masterpieces – such as Van Gogh’sSelf-Portrait with Bandaged Earand Manet’sA Bar at theFolies-Bergère. It showcases these alongside an internationally renowned collection of works from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance through to the present day. 

Academically, the 鶹TVվ is the largest community of art historians and conservators in the UK, teaching and conducting research on subjects ranging from creativity in late Antiquity to contemporary digital art forms – with an increasingly global focus. An independent college of the University of London, the Courtauld offers a range of degree programmes from BA to PhD in the History of Art, curating, art and business and the conservation of easel and wall paintings. Its alumni are leaders and innovators in the arts, culture and business worlds, helping to shape the global agenda for the arts and creative industries. 

Founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to engage with art, the Courtauld works to increase understanding of the role of art throughout history, across all societies and geographies, and to champion its importance in the present day. This could be through exhibitions offering a chance to look closely at world-famous works; events bringing art history research to new audiences; accessible short courses; digital engagement, innovative school, family, and community programmes; or taking a formal qualification. The Courtauld’s ambition is to transform access to art history education, ensuring as many people as possible can benefit from the tools it offers to better understand the visual world around us.

The Courtauld is an exempt charity and relies on generous philanthropic support to achieve its mission of advancing the understanding of the visual arts of the past and present across the world through advanced research, innovative teaching, inspiring exhibitions, programmes and collections. 

The collection cared for bythe Courtauld Galleryis ownedby the Samuel Courtauld Trust. 

AboutWitherfordWatson Mann Architects

Witherford Watson Mann Architects started off their collaboration, more than twenty years ago, with a series of walks through the edges of London; since then, they have approached every project as an open-ended enquiry. Witherford Watson Mann Architects work with what they find, turning the constraints of inherited situations into surprising opportunities. They develop designs in conversation with their clients, helping progressive institutions do more of what they excel at. Combining imagination with collaboration has led to an exceptional level of ambition, the significance of which has been recognised with two RIBA Stirling Prizes: Appleby Blue Almshouse (2025), reimagining independent urban living for older people; and Astley Castle (2013), a bold entwining of past and present. Appleby Blue also won the 2025 RIBA Neave Brown Award for Social Housing and was the overall winner across all categories of the 2024 Housing Design Awards.

In addition, Witherford Watson Mann Architects’ re-imagination of the 鶹TVվ of Art in the Grade 1 Listed Somerset House and theatre for Nevill Holt Opera, built within the courtyard of an historic stable block, were shortlisted for the 2023 and 2019 RIBA Stirling Prizes respectively. Three of their projects won the ‘Stirling Prize People’s Vote’.

WitherfordWatson Mann Architectshave transformed existing buildings for Amnesty International UK, the Whitechapel Gallery, Arts Council England and Clare College, Cambridge. Strategic projects at the city scale include the Walthamstow Wetlands, Bankside UrbanForestand Olympic Park Legacy Plan.Theycontinue to work with extraordinary institutions on re-imagining them in their buildings with the second phase of the 鶹TVվ of Art, Albany TheatreDeptfordand Royal College of Art’s home in Kensington all underway.

About Lawson Ward Studio

Established in 2020 by Hannah Lawson and Georgina Ward, Lawson Ward Studio is a London-based architecture and design practice recognised for thoughtful and collaborative design. The studio works across cultural,educationaland residential projects, from small-scale refurbishments to major new developments, with a particular focus on the reinvention of existing buildings through careful remodelling or dramatic intervention.

Clients include the 鶹TVվ of Art, The National Gallery, The Science Museum, The Natural History Museum, The Wallace Collection, the British Film Institute and the Warwick Schools Foundation, alongside a range of private clients and developers. Recent work includes the Roden Centre for Creative Learning at The National Gallery, currently shortlisted for an AJ Award.

Lawson Ward Studio is committed to delivering architecture that is collaborative, context-driven and rooted in ideas of place, space,materialand light – resulting in work thatis considered, meaningful and enduring.

About Purcell

Purcell is an international practice of architects, masterplanners and heritage consultants, trusted for its expertise in conserving and reimagining the world’s most significant historic places. Founded in 1947, the practice pioneered the post-war conservation movement and continue to champion adaptive reuse as a pathway to a sustainable, low-carbon future.

With a conservation-first mindset, Purcell combines design excellence with technical rigour to deliver inclusive, planet-positive solutions. Its award-winning portfolio includes the National Gallery’s Sainsbury Wing with Selldorf Architects; Manchester Town Hall; the Wallace Collection masterplan; and twice nominated for the Stirling Prize for National Portrait Gallery with Jamie Fobert Architects and the 2025 Stirling Prize-nominated Elizabeth Tower.

With 14 studios (10 across the UK and four in Asia Pacific) – Purcell is proud to be a Certified B Corporation®, ranked No.1 for Heritage in the World Architecture 100 and recognised for creating places that celebrate heritage while making space for new stories to unfold.

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The 鶹TVվ of Art’s globally-focused curriculum is reflected in its diverse student body. We encourage applicants from all over the world to apply for one of our esteemed programmes.

Entry requirements for students applying from Denmark

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

We will accept either:

  • Award of the Studentereksamen with an overall average of 7 with high level subjects at 10,7,7
  • Award of the Højere Forberedelseseksamen with an overall average of 7 with high level subjects at 10,7,7

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

  • The award of Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with a minimum of 7/12 or 7/13 overall
  • Equivalent to a good 2:1 in a UK first degree

If your country’s qualifications are not listed, please contact us atinternational@courtauld.ac.uk– we will be happy to provide a grade equivalency

English Language Requirements

  • International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic / for UKVI) with an overall bandwidth of 7.0 or above, with no less than 6.5 in Reading and Writing (must betaken within 2 years of the start of the programme)
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing

Please visit the English Language Requirements page for more information and criteria, as well as further foreign language requirements.

Funding for Danish Applicants

Information on financial support for international students can be found here.

Fundraising.how

is an external organisation that provides comprehensive guides and articles on art scholarships and funding opportunities for Scandinavian students, offering detailed information on eligibility, application processes, and tips for success.

Please visit their website for further information.

Have a question about studying at the Courtauld? Contact the International Team today

The post Denmark appeared first on Courtauld.

]]> Norway /explore-our-courses/international-students/international-entry-requirements/norway/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:35:35 +0000 /?page_id=147409 The post Norway appeared first on Courtauld.

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The 鶹TVվ of Art’s globally focused curriculum is reflected in its diverse student body. We encourage applicants from all over the world to apply for one of our esteemed programmes.

Entry requirements for students applying from Norway

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

  • Award of the Vitnemal fra den Videregaende Skole with an average of 4.3 in the common core subjects and grades 5,4 in two relevant final year subjects

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

  • The award of a Bachelor’s degree (Bachelorgrad) from a recognised institution with a minimum of B overall.
  • Equivalent to a good 2:1 in a UK first degree

If your country’s qualifications are not listed, please contact us at international@courtauld.ac.uk – we will be happy to provide a grade equivalency.

English Language Requirements

  • International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic / for UKVI) with an overall bandwidth of 7.0 or above, with no less than 6.5 in Reading and Writing (must betaken within 2 years of the start of the programme)
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing

Please visit the English Language Requirements page for more information and criteria, as well as further foreign language requirements.

Funding for Norwegian Applicants

Information on financial support for international students can be foundhere.

Fundraising.how

provides comprehensive guides and articles on art scholarships and funding opportunities for Scandinavian students, offering detailed information on eligibility, application processes, and tips for success.

Have a question about studying at the Courtauld? Contact the International Team today

The post Norway appeared first on Courtauld.

]]> Sweden /explore-our-courses/international-students/international-entry-requirements/sweden/ Tue, 28 Oct 2025 09:32:12 +0000 /?page_id=147462 The post Sweden appeared first on Courtauld.

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The 鶹TVվ of Art’s globally focused curriculum is reflected in its diverse student body. We encourage applicants from all over the world to apply for one of our esteemed programmes.

Entry requirements for students applying from Sweden

Undergraduate Entry Requirements

  • Award of the Fullstandigt Slutbetyg fran Gymnasasieskolan /Avgangsbetyg with B in at least 1000 points, plus B or C in a further 1000 points to include B in relevant subjects

Postgraduate Entry Requirements

  • The award of a Bachelor’s degree (Kandidatexamen) from a recognised institution with a minimum of BA /4 (5U scale) or B / Very Good (AF scale), or BA / Pass with Credit (UM scale) overall.
  • Equivalent to a good 2:1 in a UK first degree.

If your country’s qualifications are not listed, please contact us at international@courtauld.ac.uk – we will be happy to provide a grade equivalency.

English Language Requirements

  • International English Language Testing System Academic (IELTS Academic / for UKVI) with an overall bandwidth of 7.0 or above, with no less than 6.5 in Reading and Writing (must betaken within 2 years of the start of the programme)
  • Cambridge English C1 Advanced: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing
  • Cambridge English C2 Proficiency: 185 overall with a minimum of 176 in Reading and Writing

Please visit the English Language Requirements page for more information and criteria, as well as further foreign language requirements.

Funding for Swedish Applicants

Information on financial support for international students can be foundhere.

Fundraising.how

provides comprehensive guides and articles on art scholarships and funding opportunities for Scandinavian students, offering detailed information on eligibility, application processes, and tips for success.

Have a question about studying at the Courtauld? Contact the International Team today

The post Sweden appeared first on Courtauld.

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