Falmouth School of Art

Established in 1902, the school was then an entirely private undertaking and offered classes such as Freehand Drawing, Model Drawing, Painting from Still Life, Drawing from the Antique and Memory Drawing of Plant Form. Students were charged between four and ten shillings (20p and 50p) per session for the privilege and were offered the opportunity to enter for Board of Education exams. Just before World War II, the local education authority took over the running of the School. During the War and for a short time after the administration fell to the Head of nearby Truro School of Art probably as many of Falmouth's staff were n the Forces. In the 1950's, the College relocated from and Jack Bridger Chalker was appointed. Under his reign, sculpture studios and printed textile studios were added to the new premises. In the next decade, local artists were recruited as visiting lecturers and they included Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost, Barbara Hepworth, Bryan Wynter, Patrick Heron, Tom Cross, Tacita Dean, David Tremlett, Tim Shaw, Robert Organ, Denis Mitchell and potter Bernard Leach. Over the years the School has not only grown in size and increased its student numbers but is recognised as a centre of excellence. Over the years it has had many incarnations namely Falmouth College of Art, Falmouth College of Arts, Falmouth College of Art & Design and in 2008 it merged with Dartington College of Arts and by 2012 had been granted full university status as the University of Falmouth.