UAL Presents: The Future of Art Schools

UAL Presents: The Future of Art Schools

Featuring Phoebe Boswell, Peter Doig, Antony Gormley and Chantal Joffe, chaired by Iwona Blazwick.

Hosted by University of the Arts London (UAL) — one of the world’s leading creative institutions — this special event brings together a panel of some of its most influential graduates.

In the 1960s, Britain had over 150 art schools. Today, fewer than half remain. With the number of students choosing Art A-levels in sharp decline, what does this mean for the future of British art, culture, and creativity?

With nearly half of all Turner Prize winners having studied at one of UAL’s six colleges, this timely discussion will see some of its most celebrated alumni reflect on how art school shaped their practice — and why protecting creative education is essential to our collective future.

About the panel:

An alumna of Central Saint Martins, Phoebe Boswell is a multidisciplinary artist working across drawing, painting, moving image, sound and writing. Peter Doig is a globally renowned painter who studied at Central Saint Martins and Chelsea School of Art and later became a professor at the Düsseldorf State Academy of Art. Antony Gormley, also a graduate of Central Saint Martins, is known worldwide for his iconic sculptures and installations. Chantal Joffe, an acclaimed painter, began her education at Camberwell School of Arts and Crafts.

The panel will be chaired by Iwona Blazwick, curator, writer, and visiting lecturer at art schools across the UK.

Join us at the world-renowned art and design college Central Saint Martins as we explore the vital role of art schools in nurturing critical thinking, cultural innovation, and personal expression in an increasingly uncertain world.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 14 October 2025

Venue: Lecture Theatre, Central Saint Martins, 1 Granary Square, King’s Cross, London

Timings:

• Welcome drinks: 5pm

• Panel discussion: 5.30pm–7pm

• Post-event drinks: 7pm–7pm

Image credits: Zeina Soliman

Host or Publisher University of the Arts London