The Northern School of Art has a distinguished heritage that spans more than 150 years, rooted in the earliest formal art education in the North East of England. Our origins lie in the late nineteenth century, with the establishment of Middlesbrough School of Art in 1870 and the opening of the Government School of Art in Hartlepool shortly afterwards in 1873. These early institutions were founded during a period of rapid industrial growth, when the region needed skilled designers, artists and makers to support manufacturing, engineering and cultural production. From the outset, our purpose has been closely tied to the needs of our place. Teaching focused on practical skill, craftsmanship and disciplined making, alongside observation, experimentation and critical thinking. As industries, technologies and creative practices have evolved, we have adapted in response, while maintaining a clear commitment to specialist, practice-led education. For many decades, the Middlesbrough and Hartlepool schools developed in parallel, each shaped by its local community. By the mid twentieth century, the Hartlepool school had established a permanent base in Church Square, with a purpose-built College of Art and Design opening there in the late 1960s. This marked a defining moment in our history, creating a dedicated home for higher-level creative education that remains central to who we are today. In the late 1970s, the institution became known as Cleveland College of Art and Design, formalising the joining of provision across the Tees Valley and reflecting a growing breadth of creative disciplines. In 2018, we became The Northern School of Art, a change that recognised both our long-standing heritage and our contemporary ambition as a leading specialist creative institution in the North of England. Today, we offer a wide range of creative pathways, from A levels and diplomas through to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. This breadth allows students to develop over time, building strong foundations in craft, critical thinking and creative expression before progressing into advanced study and professional practice. While disciplines and technologies continue to change, our emphasis on making, experimentation and individual voice remains constant. We now operate across two distinct but connected campuses in Hartlepool and Middlesbrough, each with a clear educational focus. Our Hartlepool campus is home to higher education, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate study within a long-established setting dedicated to advanced creative practice. Our Middlesbrough campus supports further education, offering A levels and diploma pathways from a contemporary town centre building that opened in the early 2020s. Designed to support modern creative learning, this purpose-built space provides industry-standard facilities and strengthens our presence at the heart of the town’s cultural regeneration. The Northern School of Art plays an active role within the region’s wider creative ecosystem. Through industry partnerships, cultural collaborations and community-facing projects, we contribute to the artistic life of the North East while preparing students for opportunities beyond the region. Our graduates leave with strong creative identities, practical experience and the confidence to sustain careers across the creative industries. The quality of teaching and learning we provide is recognised nationally. We have achieved Ofsted Outstanding on multiple inspections, reflecting consistently high standards across our further education provision. Our higher education courses are also recognised through a TEF Gold rating, acknowledging excellence in teaching, the learning environment and student outcomes. Access, inclusion and resilience remain central to our mission. We are committed to ensuring creative education is open, supportive and relevant, nurturing talent from a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. Grounded in our history and forward-looking in our ambition, The Northern School of Art continues to connect past, present and future. By combining historical depth with contemporary practice and modern facilities, we remain a place where creative talent is developed, ideas are challenged and the next generation of artists, designers and makers are prepared to shape the cultural landscape ahead.

For more than a century, The Northern School of Art has supported students who have gone on to shape creative practice across the UK and beyond. Alumni work across art, design, film, fashion, illustration and the wider creative industries, contributing to culture, industry and independent practice at every level. Among its former students are Sir Ridley Scott, one of Britain’s most influential film directors, and Mackenzie Thorpe, whose paintings and sculptures are recognised internationally for their emotional depth and distinctive northern voice. The School has also educated artists, illustrators and designers such as Basil Beattie, Royal Academician, Curtis Jobling, illustrator and creator of Bob the Builder, and Steve Bell, long-standing political cartoonist for The Guardian. What connects these alumni is not a single discipline or style, but a shared foundation in practical learning, creative independence and professional confidence. The emphasis on making, experimentation and personal voice continues to inform graduates long after they leave, forming a creative legacy that has developed over more than 150 years.