Why This Project

In the wake of Covid-19, the “value of creative education … has never been more apparent” ( Arts Council England & NGA, 2021 ).

Art and design education is essential for developing critical thinking, teamwork, innovation, imagination, and lifelong skills that improve perception, productivity and well-being ( Arts Award ; Arts Council England). The importance of art and design for civic society was clearly recognised during the post-war reconstruction period, marked by the founding of the Design Council in 1944 and the Arts Council in 1945 .

It was in this context that we find the birth of Art and Design Classes, a little-known initiative that enabled school-aged children to attend their local art college and access a creative education outside of the traditional classroom. Today, these have evolved into Saturday Art and Design Clubs (SADC), which have become increasingly popular, providing school-aged children free access to creative learning in a university setting.

In the current climate, the need for these clubs is more essential than ever. Earlier this year, it was reported that fewer than thirty students took A-Level Art in Tower Hamlets in 2024 (Weale, 2025). This sharp decline reflects a broader trend: a significant reduction in arts provision within state secondary education and a significant scaling back of Foundation Diplomas in Art and Design across the university sector. In response, artists and creative industry experts have called for a renewed ‘ Campaign for the Arts ’.

Given these challenges, we believe it is critical to understand the history of students’ pathways into tertiary arts education and the creative industries, and to explore historical initiatives that attempted to widen access to creative education.

This project Foundations: The Lost History and Legacy of British Art and Design Classes, 1945-Present Day seeks to uncover and document the history of these classes: how they operated, their role and importance in post-war Britain’s transformation, and their impact on individuals and creative institutions.