On 22 October 1863 the foundation stone of Nottingham’s first bespoke home for Art and Design education, the Waverley building, was laid on the NTU City site during a grand public ceremony attended by locals and dignitaries alike.
The Waverley building is one of the most established design school buildings in the UK; it remains a landmark in the region’s creative history and is still an intrinsic part of Art and Design education at NTU to this day.
However, our creative journey actually first began 170 years ago in 1843, with the opening of the Nottingham Government School of Design in the city centre. Twenty years of rapid evolution in Art and Design education followed and it soon became clear that there was a need for the School to have its own bespoke building. Plans to build Waverley were put into place.
The year ahead: celebrating Past, Present and Future
We are celebrating with a calendar of commemorative and future-facing events, comprising a diverse series of activities, starting in January 2014 and running right through to January 2015 and finishing 150 years to the day that the Waverley building was first finally officially opened.
In January 2014 we begin our celebrations with Since 1843: In the Making, an extensive on-site exhibition, featuring the work of almost 100 of our alumni from all areas of art and design practice, to produce a highly visual snapshot of creativity through time.
Our ambitious showcase will present the work of established names and award winners, internationally-acclaimed artists and designers, and a wealth of recent talent and ones-to-watch. A new commission by NTU Fine Art alumnus, international artist Jon Burgerman, will also be unveiled.
Keep up to date with the latest news at www.since1843.co.uk