The Royal College of Art at 200

The Royal College of Art was founded in 1837 as the Government School of Design, to drive forward a new approach to the possibilities of the Industrial Revolution and boost the countryʼs economy.

We approach our 200th anniversary in a time of global challenge and rapid change, with new revolutions in creative methods and making on the horizon. It’s important for the RCA to be clear on what we are here to do now – as well as what type of organisation the world needs us to be by our 200th anniversary in 2037.

As a dedicated postgraduate art and design specialist university, our purpose is to:

• Lead globally in art and design education, research and practice.
• Advocate for the transformational impact of art and design.
• Support and create opportunity for students from all backgrounds.
• Amplify the impact of art and design in culture, communities and the economy.

Aligning our work to our purpose helps us work towards our vision of the RCA at our 200th anniversary as the world’s most influential art and design community.

Continuously redefining creative making and experimentation, we will be the international leader for how art and design education responds to new opportunities, perspectives and technologies.

Global in outlook and grounded in London, we will be an unparalleled creative space where the bold thinking of our students, academics and researchers positively impacts the world around us.

We will work towards delivery of this vision over the next five years through a focus on three Strategic Pillars.

Strategic Pillar One

Creating and delivering the best art and design education, dialogue and research.

Achieved through:

• Excellence in art and design teaching.
• Academic portfolio and School structure for a changing world.
• Strategic approaches to world-leading research.
• Continuous innovation, embracing emerging technologies.

Strategic Pillar Two

Championing a community with outstanding potential who are diverse, inclusive and connected.

Achieved through:

• Attracting the broadest range of people.
• Vibrant and inspiring student experience.
• Diverse, equitable and inclusive work and study environment.
• Outstanding work and professional growth.
• Connected global alumni community.

Strategic Pillar Three

Convening transformational exchanges of art and design expertise and ideas.

Achieved through:

• Partnerships for global impact.
• Purposeful collaboration for societal benefit.
• Professional support for successful art and design education and innovation.
• Being a positive local and global neighbour.

The vision of the Royal College of Art that we are working towards will maintain at its heart the ethos and culture that has made us so successful to date – the institution is our talented community of staff, students, researchers, innovators and alumni. All of our work will be done in line with the RCA’s values of Collaboration, Curiosity, Inclusion and Integrity.

The delivery of our ambitions will be enabled by:

• Creating dynamic new spaces to innovate, question and discover through our RCA Together programme and the move from three to two campuses.
• Harnessing technology to adapt to a fast-evolving world – in particular the emerging potential of AI.
• Prioritising long-term financial and organisational resilience to maintain academic excellence.
• Supporting the wellbeing and professional growth of both staff and students.

A number of supporting strategies will sit underneath this Plan, setting out more detailed action we will take in specific areas of our work. Delivery against these strategies and the Plan overall will be regularly reviewed by the RCA Executive Board and RCA Council.