ArtsEd is seeking planning permission from London Borough of Hounslow for the reorganisation and refurbishment of its west London home, Cone Ripman House, to create much needed new studio, rehearsal and teaching spaces.  The project will cover all aspects of ArtsEd’s provision and will see significant improvements in the facilities of the Day School and Sixth Form as well as the Schools of Acting and Musical Theatre.

Built for Chiswick Polytechnic in the 1950s and adapted for the Schools’ use on arrival over thirty years ago, Cone Ripman House is in need of significant development to create facilities that reflect ArtsEd’s reputation for world-class conservatoire training.

Principal, Chris Hocking says:

“Our goal is straightforward, to provide our students with facilities that match the exceptional quality of our teaching, ensuring that future generations continue to leave ArtsEd as outstandingly confident and creative young performers”

The proposals, from leading architects De Matos Ryan, make innovative use of the tight urban site, optimising the use of the existing buildings and unlocking the potential of currently empty courtyard space.

ArtsEd will be submitting the formal Planning Application to Hounslow Borough in the first half of 2018 and will begin the process of fundraising for the build once planning permission is granted.

Photo: Aristic impression from De Matos Ryan

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ArtsEd is delighted to announce that second-year Acting student Cashauna Holland was presented with a Lilian Baylis Award at a recent ceremony at the Old Vic.

Cashauna was equally thrilled: “It was such an honour to hear that I was receiving the award and then to be at the ceremony was nothing short of a dream.”

The awards were presented by renowned actor David Suchet CBE, pictured, who offered the winners advice and encouragement.

Congratulations Cashauna!

The Lilian Baylis Awards, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, are granted to students from each of the eleven accredited London Drama Schools, to help them complete their training by reducing financial stress. Nominated by their drama schools, students have to fulfil three criteria: show promise, with the potential to make a significant contribution to the development of theatre; experience hardship, with their course completion in jeopardy without additional finance and should have completed two years of a three-year course, or one year of a two-year course.

The awards are dedicated to the memory of Lilian Baylis (1874-1937) who ran The Old Vic Theatre from 1912 until her death. She was committed to ensuring that The Old Vic productions were of the highest quality and that the doors were open to many who could not afford the more established theatres. She was an important figure in developing major venues: The Old Vic National Theatre; Sadler’s Wells Opera, which became the English National Opera; Sadler’s Wells Ballet, which became Birmingham Royal Ballet and the Royal Ballet School.

Click here for more information about the Lilian Baylis Awards.