School of Arts
About us
We are a community that goes far beyond traditional boundaries and expectations. By combining traditional crafts, digital innovation and critical thinking across practical learning and world class research, we provide a unique background for our students to learn and thrive in.
Based in one of the biggest creative hotspots outside of London, you’ll benefit from the huge variety of artistic, cultural and media organisations Bristol has to offer. We are at the centre of this internationally renowned cultural and creative network. Our connections with businesses and research centres give you the opportunity to work with and hear from experts and specialists through teaching, events, live briefs and placements.
You’ll have access to specialist maker spaces, industry-standard studios and production facilities at our Bower Ashton site – part of our City Campus, which also includes three international contemporary art centres: Arnolfini, Spike Island and Watershed. These sites offer you access to shared studio space with working artists, as well as talks, workshops and opportunities to exhibit work and to get involved in community outreach projects.
Choose to be a student here and you’ll be inspired to bring your ideas to life while developing a sense of belonging within a like-minded community of creatives.
Our subjects

Art
Our Art courses include: Illustration, Fine Art and more. Find out why you should study an Art degree at UWE Bristol.

Design
On our design courses, you'll work on live briefs, be inspired by study visits and benefit from our extensive industry links, both in buzzing Bristol and further afield.

Drama and Acting
Our courses include: Drama and Drama and Acting. Find out why you should study a Drama and Acting degree at UWE Bristol.

English, History and Writing
Our courses include: English Literature, English Language and Linguistics, Film Studies, History, Creative and Professional Writing and more.

Fashion
Our Fashion courses include: Fashion Communication and Fashion Textiles Find out why you should study a Fashion degree at UWE Bristol.

Filmmaking, Animation and Photography
Our courses include: Animation, Filmmaking, Photography, Wildlife Filmmaking and more.

Journalism and Media
Our courses include: Culture, Media and Creative Industries, Journalism and Media Production.
Student showcase
View our digital showcase featuring the work of students from 25 of UWE Bristol’s creative programmes across art, design, animation, fashion, media, performance, photography and filmmaking.

Our facilities

Art and design
Develop your skills in traditional and contemporary crafts, processes and digital technologies.

Design studios
Our state-of-the-art Design Studios at Bower Ashton are helping to shape the future of the creative industries.

Drama, Acting and Music
Make the most of exciting facilities at Bower Ashton Studios, Frenchay Campus, Arnolfini (Bristol's International Centre for Contemporary Arts) and our Centre for Music.

English, History and Writing
Take a personalised virtual tour of our creative teaching spaces, such as our dedicated Resource Centre or S Block Atrium.

Fashion
You can access facilities across the whole of Bower Ashton Campus whilst studying fashion, exploring fabrication, print and digital design to produce incredible work.

Filmmaking, Animation and Photography
Get skilled, practiced and inspired in one of the UK's hottest spots for animation, filmmaking and photography. Whether you're inspired by the BBC or Aardman, find facilities to match your creativity at UWE Bristol.

Journalism and Media
Passionate about discovering the truth and telling the world about it? From newsroom and radio labs to mobile media on the go, gain the craft and master the tools to get your stories out there.
City Campus
City Campus is UWE Bristol's creative campus with city centre cultural sites at Arnolfini, Spike Island, Watershed and Bower Ashton.
City CampusOur partnerships and research

Partnerships
Well-established links with some of the top creative and cultural organisations in the region have led to an evolving portfolio of exciting collaborations and opportunities.
Partnerships
Research
Research plays an integral role in the School of Arts, generating new knowledge through a mixture of dialogue, practice and critique. The findings feed directly into your learning experience, providing valuable insights.
ResearchSchool of Arts on Instagram
- Integrated Foundation @uwe_foundationartdesign
- Fashion Communication @uwefashioncommunication
- Fashion Textiles @uwe_fashiontextiles
- Fine Arts @fineartsuwe
- Graphic Design @typenowhere
- Illustration @uweillustration_
- Interior Design @uweinteriordesign
- MA Curating @uwe_ma.curating
- MA Design @uwe_ma.design
- MA Multi-disciplinary Printmaking @uwe_maprint
- BA Photography: @photo.bristol.uwe
- MA Photography: @maphotographybristol
Latest news

28 August 2024
Funding opportunities and information events announced for 'Immersive Arts'
Immersive Arts, a UK-wide programme to support artists to make and share extraordinary immersive work, has unveiled its first round of funding opportunities.

31 January 2024
UWE Bristol to lead ‘Immersive Arts’ – a new £6m project supporting UK artists to work with immersive tech
The three-year ‘Immersive Arts’ project will build on the UK’s record of supporting artists to unlock the creative potential of new technology.

09 November 2023
Region’s production community energised by crucial announcements during Screen Summit
The prospect of a regional production fund and news of a media conference coming to Bristol, were among the highlights of the Bristol and Bath Screen Summit.

08 November 2023
UWE Bristol researcher discovers identity of mystery figure on Led Zeppelin IV cover
The original of an image made famous by the band Led Zeppelin has been discovered in a Victorian photograph album by a UWE Bristol history researcher.

10 October 2023
Bristol and Bath Screen Summit to address the action needed to drive regional growth and support production talent
Leading filmmakers, producers and writers will join production companies, commissioners, and politicians at the second Bristol and Bath Screen Summit.

20 September 2023
Renowned video artist and UWE Bristol Visiting Professor launches exhibition of retrospective work
An exhibition featuring the work of UWE Bristol Visiting Professor Terry Flaxton, one of the UK’s leading video artists, launches in Bath on 6 October.

03 November 2022
Success for inaugural Bristol and Bath Screen Summit
Showcasing Bristol's city-region as a leading production community, the summit focuses on ways to nurture creative talent and support innovation and diversity.

10 May 2021
UNESCO world heritage sites brought to life for the visually impaired
UNESCO world heritage sites across Europe have been recreated into 3D tactile models with built in audio technology for people with visual impairments.

05 August 2020
UWE Bristol project to create lifelike organ simulators using 3D printing
Researchers are exploring how 3D technology can be used to improve surgical training by creating organ simulators which look and feel like real body parts.

30 May 2019
AR installation challenges ideas about fashion and gender at Sheffield DocFest
PhD researcher Rob Eagle based at the Digital Cultures Research Centre (DCRC) at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has developed an augmented reality (AR) wardrobe to challenge ideas about fashion and identity.
News and events
News
Find out all the latest from the School of Arts. You can also join our social channels:
- Creative UWE X (formerly Twitter)
- Creative UWE Instagram
Events
Find out what events are taking place across the University and how you can take part.
You may also be interested in

Colleges and Schools
Find out more about our academic schools within our three colleges.

College of Arts, Technology and Environment
With over 6,000 students and 450 staff, our interdisciplinary approach to teaching, research and partnerships creates new opportunities for our students, our staff and the communities we serve.

Postgraduate Arts courses
Find out more about our postgraduate arts courses in the School of Arts.