RCA BLK

The Royal College of Art Association of Black Students, Alumni & Friends started as a grassroots organisation and community group in 2020. In 2022 it became part of the college with the support of the then vice chancellor Paul Thompson and a number of other supporters from the local and wider RCA network.

Since its inception RCA BLK has evolved after a successful tenure of partnerships and involvement. We’re happy to be the first association in the country to action incremental change within an institutional ecosystem. Thus far, we are the proud initiators of the Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship, the RCA BLK x Yinka Shonibare Residency, BLACK STAR Time Capsule and the proud recipients of the Black British Artist Grant 2023,The RCA BLK research Hub, John Akmofrah Fellowship 2024 with have been nominated for a number of awards.

Historically, RCA students have created groups that have provided a platform and a much-needed area of support for Black and PoC students. Exhibitions such as RCA Black co-created by Ekua McMorris and thePoC Link-up Collectiveby Jerome Ince-Mitchell have paved the way and created a network within and beyond the walls of the college.

Nevertheless, the (in)visibility and (un)sustainability of Black alumni within the RCA remained prevalent as each year went by, and as a consequence, feelings of isolation, lack of diversity in student numbers, encounters of microaggressions and racial prejudice arose.

To combat this and forge a new model, Roxanne Simone and Emily Moore began the conversation to create an association that would remain central to the Black student and alumni experience in and outside of the RCA for years to come.

Founding members: Emily Moore, Roxanne Simone, Melanie Issaka, Andy Hart, Josh Woolford, Jerome Ince-Mitchell, Ibrahim Cissé, Michael Forbes, Sheran Forbes, Mary Adeturinmo and Timi Oyedeji.

Our core objectives are to promote, improve and advance education by encouraging and supporting the practice of contemporary visual artists who identify as Black within the RCA’s wider community. We aim to do so by fostering relationships with pre-enrolled students, current students as well as alumni.

RCA BLK will positively impact students' experience from the African diaspora and build upon the rich legacies of the RCA student body. We look forward to welcoming the visionaries of the future to our growing community whilst we continue to expand the discourse and conversations around contemporary art and design.