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No creative journey is the same but we know that inspiring your students, whatever their ambition, is at the heart of what we do in creative education.
Saturday Art School Funded Places
We're committed to equal access to creative education and careers. As such, each academic year we're delighted to offer a limited number of funded places on our Saturday Art School courses.
Please note, we've now filled all of our funded places for 2022/23.
However, please check back for details of how to apply for the next academic year. We expect to release our next batch of funded places in spring 2023.
If you have any questions get in touch with our friendly team.
Eligibility criteria
To be eligible for a funded place on one of our Saturday Art School courses students must meet at least one of the following:
- Are currently in receipt of Free School Meals
- Are in local authority care or looked after for three months or more
- Are a Young Carer
- From a Gypsy, Roma, Traveller, Showman, or Boater community
- Have a parent who has served, or is currently serving, in the armed forces
- Current home postcode shows that you live in an area with low levels of progression to Higher Education (postcodes within the lowest 2 POLAR4 quintiles)
- Current home postcode shows that you live in an area that falls within the lowest 20 per cent of the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD)
Choose your Saturday Art School course
Explore creativity from a young age
Our courses for blossoming artists as young as 7 years old will help them explore their creativity, harness their imaginations, and gain confidence in creating and sharing their work. No art and design experience is necessary; all we ask is students come with buckets of enthusiasm.
Learn new skills and develop existing ones
We offer a range of courses to enable budding artists aged 12–15 to develop skills in a range of different creative disciplines either to find their creative calling or simply enjoy learning new skills. Students don’t need to already be experts in their chosen subject, all we ask is that students come with enthusiasm for learning new things.
Preparing for future creative studies
For any budding artist, it's important to have a well presented and varied portfolio to help them take the next step in their creative journey. Especially if the next step is applying to study at foundation or undergraduate level. We’ve two portfolio preparation courses specifically designed for older students aged 14–18 to help them succeed. Students don’t need to already be applying for creative courses, we just ask that students come with lots of enthusiasm and ideas!

Portfolio Preparation
This practical course for students aged 14–16 will guide them to develop a well presented and varied portfolio, ready for future studies.

Pre-Foundation Portfolio Preparation in Art, Design and Media
On this practical course students aged 16–18 will prepare and develop a robust portfolio for future Foundation Diploma study.
Why study at Saturday Art School?
Unlock creative talent
We understand how important young creative artists are – they've so much potential, untapped abilities, and enthusiasm. At Saturday Art School they’ll be supported to fully explore their creative talent and future potential, whilst being themselves.
Learn from the best
All our tutors are experts in their creative fields and love sharing their skills; their passion for their craft is infectious. Our young artists will learn in an encouraging, inclusive, and supportive environment, where there’s no right or wrong way to be creative.
Study at a specialist institution
We’re proud to be the UK’s top specialist art and design university. We invest heavily in technology and spaces to best equip our students during their time with us, as such our young artists will have access to our industry-standard resources and learn in our state-of-the-art studios. All course materials are included in the funded course fee.
Start your creative journey
We welcome young artists aged 7–18 (age restrictions applicable by course) of all abilities, from beginners to experienced creatives. In fact, many of our students continue to study with us for years to come. We offer a range of portfolio preparation courses to help prepare young artists to continue their creative studies at foundation or undergraduate level.