Helping Black students thrive in art education
The lack of Black representation at British art colleges narrows the perspectives shaping the country’s cultural landscape. Experiences of racial aggression and microaggressions can lead to disproportionately high dropout rates among Black students, and feed into the broader struggle of sustaining an artistic practice within a hostile learning environment.
Here are three ways in which The Royal College of Art Association of Black Students, Alumni & Friends (RCA BLK) has tackled these problems head-on, with effective results.
1. A space to listen
Offering a space to listen to Black student experiences has been a vital first step in understanding the difficulties they face. What sets RCA BLK apart is its comprehensive, community-driven approach throughout the student journey. We’ve found that support is only possible if you are frequently re-evaluating the needs of students. We’ve done this by having recent graduates join the RCA BLK team, to help steer the focus and address the most pressing needs of current and graduating students. It is also achieved by continuously engaging with students, staff and alumni to provide mentorship, drop-ins and peer-led crits, creating a network of support helping students to succeed academically and professionally.
It’s also proven to be effective. Ten years ago, students were frequently requiring the support of a therapist or counsellor because of the negative experiences they were having. Now, because of the work that has been done by RCA BLK, their needs have shifted from simply surviving to addressing problems such as “how to build an artistic network” or “what does PhD study look like”.
2. A network that helps Black students thrive
Creating a far-reaching and supportive network for Black RCA students and alumni has been a central ethos for RCA BLK and is a vital component to making sure a job in the creative industry feels possible and sustainable for Black students. We’ve hosted networking events, from intimate meet-ups to large celebrations – and attended by over 500 people in the past year. These gatherings not only celebrate the success of current students and alumni but also offer important professional connections.
Tailored mentoring programmes and crit sessions also help students navigate the academic and professional art world. RCA BLK hosted a month-long residency in January 2024 through the Out Loud Arts Incubator, providing creative space, mentorship and visibility for emerging Black artists. Other initiatives included the Sankofa exhibition in December 2023 and an exhibition marking the association’s residency with Art in Romney Marsh (AiRM) in March 2024.
We also trialled other initiatives such as the RCA BLK research hub, which supports students who have just graduated to strengthen their relationship with research. This has led to students going on to viable career paths in research and academia.
