RCA Summer Schools Open for Application

Intensive short courses at the world's leading art and design university offer opportunities to learn from renowned practitioners.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:03am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring a repeating grid of sketchbooks and art supplies, conceptually representing the diverse creative tools and materials used in the RCA's summer courses.The RCA's vibrant summer school programs invite artists and designers from around the world to explore new creative frontiers.Kensington Today

The Royal College of Art (RCA) is inviting international practitioners, artists, curators, and critical thinkers to apply for its 2026 summer school programs. These intensive short courses provide participants the chance to learn directly from RCA academics, renowned practitioners, and notable guest speakers who are shaping the future of art and design.

Why it matters

The RCA summer schools are an extension of the university's postgraduate environment, known for small class sizes, hands-on practice-led research, and access to a global network of participants from over 60 countries. Many summer school attendees go on to explore new careers, develop their practice, or apply successfully to RCA's prestigious MA programs.

The details

The 2026 summer school offerings include courses in Curating Contemporary Art & Design, Contemporary Art, and Architecture, as well as specialized programs focused on visual communication and design. The courses will be delivered both online and in-person at the RCA's Kensington campus, allowing participants to engage with the city as a testing ground. Notable guest speakers include artists, curators, and architects from around the world.

  • The Curating Contemporary Art & Design course runs from July 6-17, 2026.
  • The Contemporary Art Summer School runs from July 13-31, 2026.
  • The Architecture Summer School runs from July 13-17, 2026 in-person at the RCA Kensington campus.

The players

Royal College of Art (RCA)

The world's leading university for art and design, ranked #1 for 12 consecutive years.

Professor Victoria Walsh

Head of Programme, Curating Contemporary Art (CCA) and Course Director for the Curating Contemporary Art & Design summer course.

Dr. Despina Zacharopoulou

Performance artist and academic researcher who leads the Contemporary Art Summer School.

Sabrina Morreale and Lorenzo Perri

Architects and RCA tutors who convene the Architecture Summer School.

Neville Brody

Leading typographer, internationally recognized art director and brand strategist, who leads the 'Design Without' masterclass.

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What they’re saying

“Since 2016, we have welcomed participants from Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum, Budapest's Museum of Applied Arts, the Al Qasimi Foundation for Policy Research, the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the Sharjah Art Foundation, the Warwick Arts Centre and the Design Trust, Gabriel Caruana Foundation, Daiwa Foundation, Arusha Gallery, to name a few.”

— Elisabeth Del Prete, Course Convener, Curating Contemporary Art & Design

What’s next

Interested applicants can visit the RCA website to review the full list of summer school offerings and submit their applications.

The takeaway

The RCA summer schools provide a unique opportunity for international artists, designers, and creative thinkers to engage in intensive, practice-led programs led by renowned faculty and guest speakers. These short courses serve as a gateway for many participants to explore new directions, develop their skills, and potentially pursue further studies at the prestigious Royal College of Art.