RCA Black: Past, Present & Future

The Royal College of Art, in collaboration with the African and African Caribbean Design Diaspora (AACDD), is delighted to present RCA Black, an exhibition celebrating art and design by African and African Caribbean graduates.

Private View: September 1st, 6-9pm

The RCA is one of the world’s most influential postgraduate art and design colleges. As an incubator for creative talent it is renowned for its alumni who include Ridley Scott, James Dyson, Tracey Emin and David Hockney.  Alongside these, the RCA has also been instrumental in developing the careers of artists and designers from African and African Caribbean descent such as architect David Adjaye and bespoke tailor Charlie Allen.

A Royal College of Art education undoubtedly brings with it the prospect of prestige and success, yet at the same time, the College – in common with other major British educational institutions – is seen as being a predominately white university.

With this in mind, RCA Black will for the very first time bring together the multidisciplinary practices of the College’s African and African Caribbean art and design alumni, past and present. The achievements of these artists and designers – spanning 60 years – are being showcased not only as exemplars of creativity but also as a point of celebration.

Believing that the art and design sector should be truly representative of all talent, the AACDD approached the RCA to present the work of a group of graduates who are often marginalised within the creative industries.

Dr Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art said: “African and African Caribbean artists and designers are faced with many barriers in their quest to obtaining academic qualifications; through this exhibition I hope that those considering applying to the College will have confidence that admission is based on merit, not on any other factor.”

Related reading:

• ARC Magazine (19.08.2011):
  Royal College of Art and the AACDD presents RCA Black
• The Guardian (23.08.2011):
  RCA Black and the table that thinks it's a woman
• The Guardian (23.08.2011):
  Hidden talent: RCA Black at the Royal College of Art – in pictures
• The Voice (28.08.2011):
  Painting with colour

For further information and images please contact:
Ekua McMorris on 0207 590 4211 or 07737197028, email: black@rca.ac.uk
Sue Bradburn, RCA Media Relations & Marketing Manager on 0207 590 4114, email: sue.bradburn@rca.ac.uk

In partnership with