Sheffield School of Design was founded in 1843 as Sheffield became internationally renowned for its manufacturing trades. Firmly rooted in the needs of industry, the school had a long and distinguished history in premises on Arundel Street (after 1855), then (following the destruction of the original buildings in the War in 1940) moving to the former Bluecoat school in Psalter Lane. In 1969 it merged with Sheffield College of Technology to form Sheffield Polytechnic, becoming Sheffield Hallam University in 1992, and moving back to the city centre a stone's throw from the original building in 2008.

Of course, art schools are more than just a history of buildings - Sheffield Institute of Arts lists notable alumni such as Nick Park, Kid Acne, David Mellor Mark Herbert, George Shaw, Rob Hardy, and Godfrey Sykes as well as many, many more graduates who have used their creativity to excel in fields from documentary film making to industrial design.

Throughout 2013 our programme of exhibitions and events celebrates our history and shows off some of the remarkable achievements of our current students and staff.