School of Arts and Creative Industries

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The School of Arts and Creative Industries is a forward-thinking hub of creativity in the thriving artistic, cultural hotbed of East London.

Industry Links

We provide our students with strong industry links – placements, collaborations and staff with real industry experience.

Interdisciplinary

We believe interdisciplinary learning is a core component of future work – cross-School collaborations and opportunities providing students with broader experience and skills.

Entrepreneurial

We want our students to be entrepreneurial – providing students with skills and experience to choose their own career path.

Who we are

Our academic staff create a diverse and innovative learning environment that will not only challenge you but also expose you to a rich mix of culture and knowledge.

You will be supported by excellent technical and administrative staff and the courses are taught in purpose-built facilities to ensure you have a full suite of resources available to you throughout your study.

We are at the heart of the cultural life of our local communities and of London itself: supplying some of the key talent, skills and ideas that will help shape the future of the UK's creative economy. 

    Overview

    The School of Arts and Creative Industries' breadth of media, fashion and performance areas are grounded in creative excellence and framed by extensive community and industry collaboration. Our music, dance, drama, performing arts and acting courses are part of the vibrant arts and theatre scene of East London, with our yearly FUEL performance festival standing as one example of this.

    Our media courses engage you in a range of cutting-edge media practice and debates and allow you to learn by practising your skills in real live contexts, such as film festival participation (Film), football clubs (Sports Journalism) and games jams (Games). Our fashion design, textiles and marketing courses have innovation and enterprise at their heart, challenging the boundaries of traditional design, textile, fashion business and marketing. Our courses participate in a wide range of influential activities inclusive of the learning experience at UEL such as fashion weeks, trade shows and collaborative projects with industry partners in design, retail, styling, sustainable textile developments for industry and much more.

    Key features
    • All our students develop a range of practical skills and techniques while developing an understanding of the professional, cultural, social, technological contexts of their practice.
    • As well as learning about your subject we prepare you for the jobs of tomorrow. We equip you with useful life skills.
    • We provide you with strong industry links - placements, collaborations and staff with real industry experience.
    • We believe interdisciplinary study is a core component of future work - cross-School collaborations and opportunities provide you with broader experience and skills.
    • We encourage an entrepreneurial spirit.
    • We celebrate the diversity in the School - a rich mix of students, staff, experience and opportunities nurture a creative and collaborative environment.
    Key facilities

    All our students are taught in discipline specific spaces equipped with facilities, materials and equipment loans for making, performing and collaborating on practical projects. 

    Students perform in a range of multi-purpose performance studios, production spaces and sound studios at our USS campus. 

    Fashion facilities at the Docklands campus include pattern cutting and sewing studios that boast state of the art machinery for manufacturing.

    Production and media students benefit from a range of green screen, newsroom, mac labs, edit, games and animation suites.

    View our graduate showcase

    Our subjects

    Media

    Our courses offer the perfect mix of practical skills, knowledge and analysis, propelling you towards a rewarding future in the creative industries.

    Browse Media courses

    Performing Arts

    Our expertise and our well-equipped USS campus will help you develop your creative potential in the world of music, dance, theatre and performance.

    Browse Performing Arts courses

    Fashion

    Our fashion and textile department offers a wide range of exciting courses in design, textiles, marketing and business studies.

    Browse Fashion courses

    Our staff

    School of Arts and Creative Industries
    Dean of School: Rosemary Stott (Interim)

    Accordion

    School office

     

    • Dean of School: Dr Rosemary Stott (Interim)
    • Director of Education and Experience (Interim Co-Directors) - Dr Rosemary Stott 
    • Director of Enterprise and Careers -  Suzanne Dixon
    • Director of Impact and Innovation - Kate Hodgkin
    • Head of Department of Fashion: Beatrice Newman
    • Head of Department of Media: Dr Rosemary Stott
    • Head of Department of Music, Writing and Performance: TBC
    • School Business Manager - Esme Godden
    • Deputy School Manager - Buky Osifeso
    • Departmental Officer - Eunice Arkhurst
    Accordion

    Department of Fashion

    Fashion

    • Joe Hunter - Senior Lecturer
    • Namal Lanka - Lecturer, Fashion Enterprise and placement
    • Kent Le - Programme Leader for MA International Fashion Business
    • Beatrice Newman - Programme Leader for Fashion Design
    • Lesley Robertson - Programme Leader for BA Fashion Textiles
    • Kim Smith - Senior Lecturer
    Accordion

    Department of Media

    Media

    • Andrew Branch - Senior Lecturer
    • Tony Sampson - Reader
    • Valentina Signorelli - Programme Leader for BA Media & Communication
    • Alexander Thomas - Programme Leader for BA Media Production

    Media Foundation

    • David Lashbrook - Lecturer
    • Anna Robinson - Programme Leader for Foundation HCI & MS

    Animation

    Games

    Advertising

    • Julia Dane - Programme Leader for BA Advertising
    • Sylvia Prasad - Senior Lecturer

    Journalism and Sports Journalism

    Film

    Accordion

    Department of Performing Arts

    Creative Writing

    • Terry Bailey - Programme Leader for BA Creative Writing
    • Helena Blakemore -Senior Lecturer
    • Ravinder Basra - Senior Lecturer
    • Roberta Garrett - Senior Lecturer

    Acting & Theatre Directing

    • Dominic Hingorani - Programme Leader for MA Acting / MA Theatre Directing
    • Martin Heaney - Senior Lecturer
    • Lynne McCarthy - Lecturer
    • Liselle Terret / Clare Qualmann - Programme Leader for BA Drama, Applied Theatre and Performance

    Dance: Urban Practice

    Music

    Performing Arts

    • Juliet Knight - Lecturer
    • Carrie Mueller / Paul Woodward - Programme Leader for BA Performing Arts
    • Freddie Opoku-Addaie - Lecturer
    • Tristan Parkes -Senior Lecturer

    Performing Arts Foundation

    • Caroline Griffiths - Programme Leader for Foundation Performing Arts, Dance & Drama
    Accordion

    Technical staff

    • Dean Todd - Technical Resources Manager
    • Rob Reed - Technical Services Officer


    Media

    • Aklima Ali - Technical Assistant - Stores 
    • Josephine Callaghan -Technical Assistant
    • Joao Cipriani - Technical Assistant - Stores
    • Teresa Duran - Technical Assistant
    • Angeline Ferguson - Technical Assistant
    • Jack Florish - Technical Assistant
    • Salma Vohra - Technical Associate

     

    Performing Arts

    • Jono Bell - Technical Associate
    • Patrick Evans -Technical Assistant - Stores
    • Steve Rolle - Technical Assistant - Stores
    • Julian Shapter - Technician
    • Karina Townsend - Technician

     

    Fashion

    • Zoe Hodgson - Technical Associate
    • Nuraan Peterson - Technician
    • Jo Primiano - Technical Assistant

    Industry Links and Research

    Research

    The School of Arts and Creative Industries is a centre of excellence for innovative and creative research, across and between a range of disciplines - among them film and media, fashion, computer games; performing arts, music, dance and drama; cultural studies and creative writing. Our research is socially engaged, collaborative and interdisciplinary and is integrated into the student experience by our research active staff.

    It is also embedded in our East London location; issues of diversity and marginalisation, cultural and social regeneration, social justice and community cohesion, are central themes. Our research activities include not only academic books and articles but theatre performances, musical and fashion events, gallery exhibitions, films.

    Our work addresses public policy, neoliberalism and the cultural impact of digital technology, alongside debates about creative practice, cultural memory and modern urban cultures. Both in scholarly publications and creative practice research, we aim to question and illuminate, which in turn engages and motivates students to become active participants alongside our researchers in wider civic and cultural life. 

    Research-informed teaching is a key part of our research culture. Student experience at all levels is enriched by the encounter with original research: students are taught by leading experts in their fields, and have opportunities to participate in creative external research projects through internships and placements. We have a lively programme of events and seminars that students are welcome to attend, offering interaction and debate.

    Find out about our research

    Industry links

    Our courses are focused on preparing students for careers in the creative industries, through a mix of skills and knowledge in production, theory, reflection, enterprise and industry engagement. 

    Students learn about the creative industries from day one and learn to produce work of professional standard for projects, festivals, business or entertainment, working to live or simulated briefs. 

    Our staff are makers, practitioners in industry or they research industry trends and developments. Companies we work with include V&A East, East London Dance, Urban Development (Music), Stratford Circus, ASOS, Amazon and Hand and Lock. 

    Interdisciplinary projects focus on the life and community of East London, bringing our courses to life through engagement with local enterprise, third-sector companies and local organisations. 

    Play

    Hear from our students

    Krasimira Stoyneva is an award-winning fashion designer who pioneers the use of new materials and campaigns against animal cruelty with her slogan 'WEAR HAIR NOT FUR'.

    I don't think I've ever been made to feel more welcome. Being surrounded by people who are friendly, social, and share your interests has to be one of the best things I can say about my university experience.

    Ben Nizan

    BA (Hons) Computer Games Design graduate