RGU unites with Hauser & Wirth as creative education initiative hits the road

Launched by Gray’s School of Art in 2019, the main aim of the custom-built van, which is equipped withcreative tools and materials, is to widen access to creative education and careers for young people.

This new partnership allows expertise and resources to go beyond the walls of Gray’s School of Art andprovides participants the opportunity to experience and explore the personal and social enrichment that creative learning presents.

Daniel Sutherland, Associate Dean for Economic, Social and Cultural Development at Gray's School ofArt, said: “This three-year partnership with Hauser & Wirth is incredibly exciting. It gives Gray’s Schoolof Art an opportunity to take our practices outside their traditional settings and into the communities onour doorstep. We hope the Mobile Art School activities will be transformational as we look to inspire thenext generation of creatives in our part of the world.”

Debbie Hillyerd, Senior Director of Learning and Partner at Hauser & Wirth, said: “Scotland has a veryspecial place in our founders’ hearts, and we couldn’t be happier to work alongside Gray’s School of Artto expand on the Mobile Art School initiative. Each of our Learning partnerships is focused onincreasing access, support and expertise for professional development within the arts, as well asunlocking the transformative power of art for all. The Mobile Art School is already so brilliantly achievingthis, and we hope to further develop the program alongside our artists to sustain long-term meaningfulimpact for broader communities.”

A programme of events taking place in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has been developed by Gray’s School of Art and it will run for the entire 2025-2026 academic year.

The custom-built Mobile Art School is equipped with state-of-the-art creative tools to deliver high impactworkshops. The activities are designed to deliver experiences in a broad range of ‘hand to high-tech’creative tools and processes. Participants can explore new technologies such as 3D Printing and Virtual Reality, along with more traditional analogue techniques such as ceramics, printmaking anddrawing. Gray’s School of Art is currently celebrating 140 years at the cutting edge of creativeeducation in Scotland, and the Mobile Art School will play an active role in the current ‘Gray’s 140’exhibition now open at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

Since 2014, Hauser & Wirth has been committed to inclusive learning programmes that instigate adialogue between art, artists and diverse audiences with a focus on first-hand experience. The gallery’songoing global projects are centred on three core pillars: to engage with communities; enrich academicprogrammes; and foster better access to art careers through a series of meaningful partnerships.

Each partnership is focused on increasing access, support and expertise for professional developmentwithin the arts, as well as engaging broader communities with art and artists. These initiatives allow usto work in tandem with our partner organisations over a sustained period, adapting and developingprogrammes together to create long-term meaningful change and a positive impact. Recent and activepartnerships across the UK include Arts University Bournemouth, Bath Spa University, BoldTendencies, Bristol Old Vic Youth Theatre, Dartington Arts School, Drawing Matter, Hospital Rooms,Royal Drawing School, South London Gallery and Spike Island. 

Iwan and Manuela Wirth were awarded honorary degrees from RGU in 2024 in recognition of the cultural and charitable contributions they have made to North East Scotland. The FifeArms in Braemar has previously collaborated with Fashion & Textiles students from Gray’s School ofArt as part of the annual Fife Arms Festival of Fashion, celebrating fashion’s past, present and mostimportantly, future with key industry voices from Dame Anya Hindmarch and Christopher Kane to GilesDeacon.

Learn more about the Mobile Art School.