Launch of the new building for the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies

A celebration to mark the official opening of the new building for the School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies takes place on Wednesday 8 February 2017.

Founded as the Department of Fine Art in 1950, the School moved to its new location on University Road in the summer of 2016, bringing us all together on one site for the first time. The sympathetic restoration of this historic building — linked through its architect, Paul Waterhouse, to the architectural style that formed the beginnings of the University of Leeds over one hundred years ago — has enabled the development of a School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies ready for the next one hundred years of excellent teaching and research.

The building will be officially opened at 5.00pm on 8 February by alumna Ingrid Roscoe, Lord Lieutenant of West Yorkshire (BA Fine and Decorative Arts; PhD) and Sir Alan Langlands, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds.

We are delighted to welcome as our guest speaker Oscar-nominated screen writer & playwright (and BA History of Art alumnus) Peter Morgan. Peter is the creator and writer of Netflix drama series The Crown which recently won Best Television Series – Drama at the Golden Globe Awards.

Peter will participate in an ‘In conversation’ event with Griselda Pollock, Professor of the Social & Critical Histories of Art, at 6.00pm in The Great Hall. This will be followed by a reception in the School’s new student common room, from 7.00 to 9.00pm.

There will be an opportunity to see an installation by artist Elizabeth Price (winner of the Turner Prize 2012 and PhD Fine Art alumna) in the new Project Space. This exhibition will be curated by University Academic Fellow in Fine Art and Curatorial Practice, Sam Belinfante (BA Fine Art 2006).

If you would like to attend Peter Morgan’s talk in The Great Hall from 6pm, please email fincomms@leeds.ac.uk.

There will also be an opportunity for our alumni to visit the new School (including our new studio, workshop and exhibition space) and to re-experience the campus throughout the afternoon. See here for more information. If you are a former student of the School and wish to join us for any part of the day’s events, we would love to hear from you. Please email us at finalumni@leeds.ac.uk.

As part of our wider programme of events to celebrate the official opening of the building, Professor Griselda Pollock will be giving a lecture to Schools earlier in the week. More information can be found here.

Image courtesy of Infinite 3D Photography.