Art Academy opens new campus at JTRE London’s flagship Triptych Bankside

Art Academy’s brand-new campus was opened today (18th September) at JTRE London’s flagship development Triptych Bankside, marking one of the final milestones in the redevelopment of this corner of Bankside, boosting the rich artistic credentials of the area and reaffirming Art Academy’s commitment to Southwark.

Art Academy has opened its doors at the new campus, adjacent to Tate Modern, to new and existing students as well as the wider local community. Art Academy provides art courses for all levels, from BA to Foundation Degree to evening, weekend and short courses. The new 15,000 sq ft. campus, designed by world-renowned architects Squire and Partners and delivered by JTRE London, is set over two floors with teaching facilities including nine studios, an auditorium and specialist workshop spaces for local artists and the local community. It also has a 2,000 sq ft gallery which is open to the public.

The opening of the new campus for Art Academy will further reinforce the Bankside area as one of London’s foremost cultural quarters. The new campus will increase Art Academy’s physical footprint and the positive impact delivered through its work of reinforcing connections and collaboration with the local Southwark community. 

Nigel Fleming, Managing Director at JTRE London, comments: “The opening of Art Academy at our landmark scheme, Triptych Bankside is a huge milestone for JTRE London and further highlights our commitment to shaping the spaces that we operate in for the better. We are thrilled to have worked with the team at Art Academy to bring their vision to life through the creation of this stunning new campus, adding to the strong artistic credentials of the local area and ensuring that Bankside remains a beacon in the global art world.

Rob Pepper, principal at Art Academy, comments: "Opening our new campus at Triptych Bankside, just moments from Tate Modern, marks a significant milestone in our journey. This expansion provides more opportunities than ever before and allows us to deepen our connections with the Southwark community. It has been a pleasure to collaborate with the team from JTRE London, and we eagerly anticipate welcoming our students at the start of the new year. We are committed to continuing our outreach programmes for the community and to inviting new visitors to our gallery and events spaces."

Tim Gledstone, Partner at Squire & Partners, comments: “It has been a privilege to accompany the Art Academy in the creation of their new Bankside campus, from concept design through to inception. 

Squire & Partners has relished the opportunity to assist the charity in realising their vision for a new, generous home which provides their extremely talented students and staff with the resources, space and environment to dream, create and inspire one another. 

This new asset not only reflects Art Academy’s incredibly important presence in the art community but will also ensure continual growth by bolstering their ongoing hard work in making art accessible to all. 

As a Trustee of the Academy, it’s an honour to support their expansion and assure their presence in the heart of this creative hub, surrounded by landmarks such as the Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre. When designing the wider Triptych Bankside development, we set out to create homes, workspace and amenity that contribute to Bankside’s appeal, and Art Academy is the perfect addition to this exciting and animated cultural quarter.”