Sharing the benefits of creativity: the Ruskin Gallery at ARU

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The Ruskin Gallery, located within ARU’s Cambridge School of Art, offers a distinct exhibition space open to the public. Showcasing a diverse range of exhibitions throughout the year, the gallery is a cultural hub for students, academics, and the community.

View of the Ruskin Gallery in Cambridge, set up with chairs and easels ahead of an art class

Diverse exhibitions

Examples of events held at the Ruskin Gallery include:

  • Artists’ Access to Art Colleges (AA2A) Exhibition, connecting emerging artists with the university and community.
  • Art, Culture, and Technology Symposium, Featuring works by 27 diverse artists exploring societal themes.
  • Children’s Book Illustration Showcase, highlighting world-class work from our postgraduate students.
  • Henry Moore talk, focussing on the sculptor’s lesser-known work as a war artist.

Real-world themes

The gallery uses art and design to address pressing issues. The exhibition ‘It’s not about the gallery’ featured works by MA students, including Sarah Strachan’s ‘The Security Dilemma,’ which discussed the impact of poor-quality soil on food systems. Strachan posed critical questions about global soil degradation and its implications for food security.

Prominent artists

The gallery is associated with multiple notable artists from Cambridge School of Art, including Kristin Roskifte, Nordic Council Literature Prize winner, and Thomas Taylor, designer of the original Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone cover.

'Nomadic' exhibitions

The Ruskin Gallery extends its reach into Cambridge, hosting exhibitions in various community spaces, from art galleries to retail centres like the Grand Arcade. These events foster connections between creative leaders and the civic community, enhancing the cultural landscape.

The Ruskin Gallery is a vital cultural space, enriching the lives of art students, academics, and enthusiasts in the community. We are committed to expanding our presence and sharing the educational and life-enriching benefits of creativity with even more people.

"Our ambition for the Ruskin Gallery is to grow our community presence and bring the educational and life-enriching benefits of creativity to even more people."

See also