The Northern School of Art


The Northern School of Art is a further and higher education art and design college, based in the north-east of England. The college was called Cleveland College of Art and Design after the former non-metropolitan county of Cleveland, operational from 1974 to 1996. In April 2018 it was announced that a change of name had been approved and would come into effect from September 2018.

Regional coverage

The Northern School of Art is the only specialist art and design college in the north-east of England and one of only three in the country in the further education sector.

History and estates

The college has three campuses, one in Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, one in Church Square, Hartlepool and a second Hartlepool Campus located on Church Street.
Middlesbrough School of Art, on Durham Street, and the nearby Government School of Arts in the Athenaeum on Church Street, West Hartlepool first opened in 1870 and 1874 respectively.
The college's current principal is Martin Raby.

Green Lane campus

Its main Middlesbrough-based Green Lane campus was first opened in 1960 by Robin Darwin, then-Principal of the Royal College of Art, and was later extended as Middlesbrough School of Art. It is based in the Linthorpe area of Middlesbrough.

Church Square campus

The college has operated continuously in its present Hartlepool spot since 1938, despite a 1966 fire. It is located off at the junction of the A689 and A178, and near the railway station.

Church Street Campus

Opening in 2017, the Church street campus was the first phase of the School's £11 Million development in Hartlepool. The new campus is now host to courses such as Commercial Photography, Production Design for Stage and Screen, Film and Theatre Production, Costume design and more.
With the development of the new building came the procurement of nearby bus sheds. The 3000 sq. metre sheds will become purpose-built dedicated film and TV sound studios with the aim to boost film and TV production in the north-east and create a major industry hub.

Courses

The Northern School of Art is an institution of both further and higher education, and because of this it has courses aimed at 16-year-old school-leavers all the way through to degree level, as well as part-time evening classes.

FE courses

The college offers a range of A-Level and University of the Arts London Extended Diplomas across the whole art and design spectrum, including Design Crafts, Graphic Design, Fine Art, Fashion & Textiles, Photography, 3D design and Interative Design. The college also offers BTEC level 1 and 2 courses.
The Northern School of Art also offers a Diploma in Foundation Studies in Art & Design, a course traditionally undertaken by A-level students prior to enrolling on an art and design course at university.

HE courses

At higher education level, the college also offers BA and FdA degrees, covering such subjects as textiles, Commercial Photography, Creative Photography, Fine Art, Illustration, Creative film and moving image, Costume Design, Graphic Design, theatre design, Acting, Lighting for stage and screen, vfx, 3D Design and Body Contour Fashion. All higher education courses are validated by the Arts University Bournemouth.

Notable alumni