City and Guilds Art School
City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit London higher education institution and charity offering specialist Foundation, BA, MA, and Graduate Diploma programmes in Fine Art, Conservation, and Carving — the UK's only provider of full-time degrees in architectural stone and woodcarving/gilding — for roughly 290 students annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1879
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What City and Guilds Art School does
City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit specialist higher education institution and registered charity (no. 1144708) founded in 1879 in Kennington, London, providing studio-based education in Fine Art, Conservation, and Carving — the only UK provider offering full-time BA (Hons) degrees in Architectural Stone Carving and Woodcarving & Gilding at this level. Its curriculum spans a Level 4 Foundation Diploma (validated by the University of the Arts London Awarding Body), BA (Hons) degrees, MA programmes, Graduate Diplomas, short courses, and a youth-access pathway through the National Saturday Club and related programmes, with a total student community of approximately 290. Teaching is delivered by active practising professionals in purpose-built studios — including a Print & Engraving Room re-established by Norman Ackroyd in 1998 and specialist woodwork, glass-working, and bronze-casting facilities — and is supported by partnerships with major London heritage and cultural institutions (V&A, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Royal Collection Trust, Westminster Abbey, Palace of Westminster).
Revenue derives principally from tuition fees charged to UK and international students across Foundation, undergraduate, postgraduate, and short-course programmes, supplemented by philanthropy in the form of bursaries, scholarships, and project funding from individuals, livery companies, and foundations such as Freelands and QEST. Short-course pricing is selective-published (e.g., a £560 5-day Marbling course in July 2024), while main-programme tuition is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is direct-to-consumer: prospective students apply through the school's own admissions process with portfolio submission, interviews, and offers, supplemented by Open Days, Student Virtual Chats, public Degree Shows, and an active social presence on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn. International recruitment includes CAS visa support and a £350 visa-processing fee.
Current strategic posture emphasises programmatic expansion: a new Graduate School was launched in March 2025 consolidating MA Carving, MA Conservation, and MA Fine Art, with MA Conservation: Collection Care & Management and the UK's only higher-education-level Graduate Diploma Arts: Mosaics scheduled for 2026/27. Governance was reinforced by appointing a new Vice Principal, a new Head of BA Fine Art from Glasgow School of Art, and several new trustees during 2024–2025, alongside broader international recruitment activity.
City and Guilds Art School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- City and Guilds Art School
- Legal name
- City & Guilds of London Art School
- Website
- https://cityandguildsartschool.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1879
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit London higher education institution and charity offering specialist Foundation, BA, MA, and Graduate Diploma programmes in Fine Art, Conservation, and Carving — the UK's only provider of full-time degrees in architectural stone and woodcarving/gilding — for roughly 290 students annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where City and Guilds Art School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
City and Guilds Art School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Tuition Fees: Fee income from Foundation, BA (Hons), MA, Graduate Diploma and Short Courses programmes for UK and international students
- Philanthropy and Donations: Bursaries, scholarships, funded projects and collaborations supported by broad range of individuals and institutions
- Charitable Status: Registered charity (no. 1144708) providing not-for-profit education model
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Marbling Short Course (15-19 July 2024) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | International Student Visa Processing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student Visa Living Expenses (London) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
City and Guilds Art School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit higher education institution offering specialist studio-based programmes in Fine Art, Conservation, Carving (Architectural Stone and Woodcarving & Gilding), and Mosaics. It delivers Foundation Diploma, BA (Hons), MA, and Graduate Diploma qualifications, alongside short courses and youth access programmes, taught from a single London campus by active practising professionals.
Product overview
City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit Higher Education institution offering a portfolio of specialist art, craft, and conservation courses. The institution operates a single-location campus model with programs at Foundation (Level 4 Diploma), Undergraduate (BA Hons degrees), and Postgraduate (MA degrees and Graduate Diplomas) levels. Core offerings include Fine Art, Conservation (with specializations in Stone/Wood/Decorative Surfaces and Books & Paper), and Carving (Architectural Stone and Woodcarving & Gilding). New additions include an MA Conservation: Collection Care & Management and Graduate Diploma Arts: Mosaics launching 2026/27. The school also offers short courses through Summer School and Evening Programs, and runs a Youth Access program with the National Saturday Club. All courses emphasize studio-based practice with high contact teaching time from active professionals.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Foundation Diploma in Art & Design
Quantifiable outcome
- Majority of Foundation Diploma students progress to first choice course
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use City and Guilds Art School
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
City and Guilds Art School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
City and Guilds Art School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Victoria and Albert MuseumcoreCollaboration in conservation education and practice, providing work placement and project opportunities for students
- Museum of LondoncorePartnership in collection management and conservation education
- Westminster AbbeycoreHistoric carving and conservation collaborations for heritage preservation
- The Palace of WestminstercoreHeritage conservation projects and industry connections for carving students
- British MuseumcoreConservation practice collaborations and professional networks
- Natural History MuseumcoreCollection care and conservation education partnerships
- Royal Collections TrustcoreCultural heritage conservation and professional development opportunities
- Watt's GalleryminorExhibition and artistic collaboration
- Sir John Soane's MuseumminorHeritage conservation and educational partnerships
- Commonwealth Heritage ForumminorJointly offering 'Introduction to Global Conservation' Commonwealth Summer School programme
- University of the Arts London (UAL) Awarding BodycoreValidates Foundation Diploma in Art & Design at Level 4, approved centre for UAL Awarding Body
- London School of MosaiccoreCollaboration in developing Graduate Diploma Arts: Mosaics, bringing mosaic expertise to the art school
- Worshipful Company of Joiners and CeilerscoreLivery company providing prizes, scholarships and industry connections for carving students
- Worshipful Company of MasonscoreLivery company supporting stone carving students with prizes and professional networks
- Worshipful Company of Painter-StainerscoreProvides Decorative Surfaces Fellowship for MA Fine Art students including studio and specialist training
- Artists' Collecting SocietycoreProvides ACS City & Guilds of London Art School Studio Prize for graduating MA Fine Art students
- Fishmongers' CompanyminorLivery company providing travel scholarships and menu cover design prizes
- Skinners' CompanyminorLivery company providing travel prizes and engraving prizes for students
- Grocers' CompanyminorLivery company connection through trustee Edward Campbell-Johnston as Fourth Warden
- Sarabande FoundationminorEstablished by Lee Alexander McQueen, provides artist residencies for graduates including Jo Grogan
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
City and Guilds Art School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentMarket position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
City and Guilds Art School social profiles
Digital presenceCity and Guilds Art School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
City and Guilds Art School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
City and Guilds Art School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
City and Guilds Art School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about City and Guilds Art School
What does City and Guilds Art School do?
City & Guilds of London Art School is a not-for-profit higher education institution offering specialist studio-based programmes in Fine Art, Conservation, Carving (Architectural Stone and Woodcarving & Gilding), and Mosaics. It delivers Foundation Diploma, BA (Hons), MA, and Graduate Diploma qualifications, alongside short courses and youth access programmes, taught from a single London campus by active practising professionals.
Is City and Guilds Art School a public or private company?
City and Guilds Art School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was City and Guilds Art School founded?
City and Guilds Art School was founded in 1879. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is City and Guilds Art School based?
City and Guilds Art School is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does City and Guilds Art School make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are philanthropy and Donations and charitable Status.
Does City and Guilds Art School have an API?
No public API is recorded for City and Guilds Art School.