A bid for funding to relocate The Northern School of Art’s further education (post 16) campus from Acklam to the centre of Middlesbrough has been submitted to the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA).

If approved by the TVCA, the £14.5m plan will provide a new teaching space for post 16 courses at the School, which is the north’s only specialist art and design college and provides a range of arts, design, theatre and film courses.

The School has been working closely with Middlesbrough Council and TVCA on the development of the project, which features in the Tees Valley Investment Plan that was agreed in January.

The proposals put forward are the result of detailed studies of potential sites and other options and a detailed economic study of the impact of the scheme and the benefits it will bring to the Tees Valley.

If approved, the School’s new FE campus will be located on the site of the current Denmark Street car park, adjacent to the Sainsbury’s store.

The Northern School of Art’s Principal, Martin Raby, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for the School which, if funding and the subsequent planning application are approved, will provide a new sustainable, state-of-the art building and bring new life to the western end of Middlesbrough.

“As the region’s only specialist creative institution, it makes sense for our campus to be closer to Boho in Middlesbrough and at the heart of the creative and digital cluster in Middlesbrough.”

The bid is part of a major step forward by the School, which changed its name from Cleveland College of Art and Design (CCAD) in 2018 and which has a 140-year heritage of providing creative education in the region.

The Northern School of Art’s Middlesbrough campus has been recognised as a pre-eminent provider with an Outstanding Ofsted rating since 2009 and has a string of alumni with successful careers in the creative sector to its name.

Household name artists like Mackenzie Thorpe studied at the Green Lane campus, as did more recent graduates like photographer Jack Boothby who has worked for GoPro, Lonely Planet, Visit Britain and Conde Nast, sibling fashion designers and Lielle Womenswear co-founders Natalie and Danielle Futo and the eponymous handmade fashion label creator, Olivia Rose.

The new location lends itself to providing an easily accessible base for students from across the Tees Valley who are attracted by the School’s specialist creative curriculum as well as supporting greener transport options with easy access to the bus and railway stations.

The proposed relocation takes place against the backdrop of a vibrant creative sector.

Figures released in October 2019 by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed a boom in TV and film production across the country and the sector offers significant opportunities for growth in for the economy and employment, recognised in the Tees Valley Strategic Economic Plan (SEP).

The creative sector is growing more rapidly in the north east than any other English region (excluding London) and the sector has outperformed all other sectors in employment and GVA growth since 1998 nationally.

Further information about the School’s plans and the wide range of creative courses it offers at both its FE and university level campus are available at https://northernart.ac.uk/

The next open day at the existing Middlesbrough campus, offering face-to-face discussions with staff and students about the courses and opportunities available, takes place on Saturday 16 November from 10.00 -14.00. Places can be booked at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-northern-school-of-art-open-day-college-level-saturday-16th-november-2019-registration-65398610003