Nottingham College of Art, Nottingham

The Nottingham College of Art, now part of Nottingham Trent University’s School of Art & Design, traces its origins to 1843 when it opened as the Nottingham Government School of Design—the first government-funded art school outside London. From its earliest years, the school was committed to public engagement, with students' works featured in major events such as the 1851 Great Exhibition at Crystal Palace.

By 1888, it had become the Nottingham Municipal School of Art and Design, overseen by the Nottingham Castle Museum and School of Art Committee. One of its most celebrated early students, Laura Knight, enrolled in 1890 and later became the first British female artist to be made a Dame of the British Empire. Another notable alumnus, Dudley Dexter Watkins, creator of Desperate Dan and Lord Snooty, began his artistic training here in 1922.

The school was renamed the Nottingham College of Art in 1934 but suffered significant bomb damage during World War II. In 1947, it took on a new regional role as the Central College of Art for Derby, Lincoln, Leicester, and Nottingham. It housed four distinct schools—Architecture, Design, Drawing, and Sculpture. In the 1960s, the college embraced the conceptual art movement, notably hiring influential sculptor Victor Burgin.

In 1969, it merged with the Regional College of Technology to form Trent Polytechnic, and by 1992 it became a founding part of Nottingham Trent University. Today, the School of Art & Design remains one of the oldest in the UK, continuing its long-standing commitment to innovation in art and design.

Its historic home, the Waverley Building, designed by Frederick Bakewell in Italianate style and opened in 1865, was originally built to support the city’s lace industry through design education. It has since been refurbished to provide modern facilities while preserving its architectural heritage, including exhibition spaces and improved accessibility.