Royal College of Art announces ambitious future plans via new Ridley Scott film

One of the UK’s most respected art schools has today, 28 January, announced an “ambitious” five-year plan which is set to support what it describes as a “radical new vision”.

GenerationRCA, which, yep, you guessed it, is a scheme developed by the Royal College of Art, is the “most significant” development in the college’s history since it was founded way back when in 1837. The project focuses on what the RCA describes as “three pillars.” Those pillars are places, projects, and people.

The first pillar consists of the construction of a new building on the college’s Battersea site, designed by architects Herzog & de Meuron. It will, we’re told, feature two conjoined buildings that will provide some 16,000 sqm of studios, workshops, labs and research centres. The institution is also planning on updating one of its Kensington spaces, too, with work set to begin in 2021.

In terms of projects, the most intriguing aspect of GenerationRCA’s plethora of plans involves “injecting key scientific disciplines into the mix of creative disciplines traditionally on offer.” The institution says that new courses on offer will include everything from machine learning to nano and soft robotics.

When it comes to “People”, a scholarship endowment fund will be established with the intention of ensuring that gifted students, “irrespective of their financial circumstances,” can take up places on programmes at the RCA.

GenerationRCA’s ambitious plans have been realised in part by a £15m donation from The Sigrid Rausing Trust. The Battersea development will, in turn, be named the Rausing Research and Innovation building, in honour of the Swedish philanthropist and publisher’s generosity. On the topic of generosity, Tracey Emin, David Hockney, Thomas Heatherwick and other notable RCA alumni have appeared in a short film made in collaboration with Sir Ridley Scott to aid with the GenerationRCA unveiling. It is directed by RSA alumni Juriaan Booij through Ridley’s production company, Ridley Scott Associates.

Another Sir, Apple’s Jony Ive, a current chancellor of the college, says, “I remain completely in awe and completely enchanted by the creative process, so I’m particularly proud to have the chance to represent and help guide this extraordinary institution as chancellor, as we enter one of the most exciting times in its history.”