Kingston University London has received £56,500 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for Engaging Heritage: 140 Years of Kingston School of Art in Kingston Upon Thames. Led by Kingston University’s Visual & Material Culture Research Centre within the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture with support from alumni, volunteers from the university and the local community, the project will deliver 5 exhibitions and programmes of activity at their project partner sites including Kingston Museum and Heritage Service, Rose Theatre Kingston, Stanley Picker Gallery, Dorich House Museum and the Faculty’s Platform Gallery from January to March 2015

The project will deliver 20 workshops for schools and family groups, an Art School ‘Takeover’ day, themed storytelling, fashion, film, performance and music events within the borough and involve over 40 volunteers who will benefit from training to develop new skills in archiving, interviewing, curating and film. The project will leave a legacy of a commissioned film and newly acquired artefacts that tell the story of the art school. These will add to the expanding KSA collection and be held online at the Kingston School of Art Archive (www.archiveksa.org).

The project will focus on the tangible and intangible art, design and cultural heritage of Kingston School of Art, founded in the centre of Kingston in 1875 and continuing to this day as part of Kingston University. To celebrate its 140th anniversary in Kingston in 2015, the project will concentrate on the stories and personalities connected with the history of this important art school and showcase work made by its artists, architects and designers at venues within the borough. The additional involvement of volunteers will enable the identifying, collecting, recording and publishing of the stories through the online digital collection.

Commenting on the award, Fran Lloyd, Professor of Art History & Project Leader, Visual & Material Culture Research Centre, Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture said: “We are absolutely delighted to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund for this ambitious project that engages a host of communities and embeds the history of the Art School within the borough.”
Sue Bowers, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund London, said: “This project will fill an important gap in people’s knowledge about the art heritage of Kingston upon Thames. It will involve the community in research that will uncover a fascinating history of artistic and design achievements over many years.”

ENDS

Notes to editors
About Kingston University
Kingston University’s main purpose is ‘to help undergraduates, postgraduate and research students, organisations and others to learn; to promote scholarship; advance professional practice; disseminate new ideas and discoveries through research and knowledge transfer; and support learning within the region and local community.’
The University has 22,000 students located over four campuses. The Knights Park campus, home to the Faculty of Art, Design & Architecture and its Visual & Material Culture Research Centre, includes the original purpose-built Kingston School of Art building that opened in 1939/40.

About the Heritage Lottery Fund

From the archaeology under our feet to the historic parks and buildings we love, from precious memories and collections to rare wildlife, we use National Lottery players’ money to help people across the UK explore, enjoy and protect the heritage they care about. www.hlf.org.uk.

For further information, images and interviews, please contact
Sarah Haines – Engaging Heritage Project Manager
Kingston University on s.haines@kingston.ac.uk