The Royal College Of Art – a small, specialist and research-intensive postgraduate university based in London, has just announced a brand new scholarship program offering a full tuition-free scholarship and maintenance support totalling £35,000 for an extremely talented, financially restricted Black British student.
The lucky selected individual will study in a creative or design industry without financial constraints so they can push the boundaries of their practices and fulfil their creative potential. The initiative is set to help break down barriers in education and allow the next generation of visionary designers and innovators.
Alongside the educational funding, the student will also benefit from experience within the industry as well as great networking opportunities. British Fashion designer Dr Samuel Ross and fellow creatives in the industry will also support the student.
Credit: courtesy of RCA
Virgil Abloh, who tragically passed away earlier in the year, was a famous American designer, artist, architect, engineer, creative director, DJ and entrepreneur. He was the first African American to head the fashion house Louis Vuitton’s menswear collection as the creative director. He was also the founder and CEO of Milan-based brand OFF-WHITE, and Alaska Alaska, a London studio staffed by young, multidisciplinary creatives that Virgil handpicked himself.
Virgil held a tight-knit relationship with the RCA having previously joined the RCA as an honorary visiting professor in 2020. Embodying the RCA’s spirit of collaboration and ingenuity, and hoped to enable students across the college to benefit from his knowledge and industry experience, as an international fashion figurehead. In the time he was at the college, he made a significant impact on the college, students and the RCA community as a whole. This new scholarship initiative aims to recognise and celebrate Virgil’s dedication to education, his central ethos of creating social change and his position as a renowned champion of equality of opportunity across the creative industries.
The scholarship will be annual and apply to all areas of the RCA School of Design postgraduate studies including Fashion, Textiles, Design Products, Service Design and Intelligent Mobility among other pioneering courses. The RCA School of Design is known for it’s commitment to engaging with design on several levels, from the deeply practical to the highly conceptual, with a strong college culture of innovation, experimentation and debate.
Credit: courtesy of RCA
The Virgil Abloh Scholarship has been created with the support of the late designer’s wife, Shannon Abloh, as well as the Fashion Scholarship Fund team based in the USA, thanks to an extremely generous gift from an anonymous donor via RCA USA.
RCA Chancellor Sir Jony Ive said: Virgil’s creativity and generosity will continue to have an impact at the RCA through this remarkable scholarship. I continue to be inspired by Virgil and believe that his curiosity and entrepreneurialism will live on, inspiring generations of innovators to come.”
Shannon Abloh, CEO, Virgil Abloh Securities said: “Over the years, the RCA and Virgil formed a beautiful relationship based on a shared appreciation of collaboration, creative vision, and of course, education. We know that the RCA Virgil Abloh Scholarship will break down financial barriers to fulfilling creative potential and empower talented young individuals to dream even bigger.”
Zowie Broach, Head of Programme, MA Fashion at the RCA said: “Virgil’s energy and the intention was truly something else. This amazing legacy will offer young black British designers an opportunity where, I have no doubt, they will feel his power and continue forth to inspire and create even more
change.”
Dr Samuel Ross, Artist and Fashion Designer said: “Virgil Abloh’s drive has always been linked to bettering others, bettering society, and communicating an optimistic future with grace, a radical spirit and intellectual prowess that operates on a diagonal, through all facets of society. Without a doubt this Philosophy will be expanded upon and continue to shift the behaviour of the creative industry & physical spaces, whilst bettering key communities Virgil dedicated much of his time to supporting.
Credit: courtesy of RCA
RCA is increasing the number of scholarships available to students experiencing financial hardship as part of their commitment to making postgraduate study open to creatives of all backgrounds. This academic year alone over 180 scholarships, awards and prizes are available to RCA students.
Multiple foundations, individuals and commercial organisations have supported this growth with gifts, including:
● The Sir Frank Bowling Scholarship, which supports UK students from Black African and Caribbean diaspora heritage, or mixed Black African and Caribbean diaspora heritage, across
MA, MRes and PhD study
● The RCA Logitech Scholarships, which provide scholarships for students on any course from
underrepresented communities and facing financial hardship
● The Tony Snowdon Scholarship, which supports students from any programme with a physical or sensory disabilities
As part of the donation, which enabled the creation of the RCA Virgil Abloh scholarship, has been rewarded to Samuel Ross Black British Artist Grant Programme for 2022. Working alongside Samuel Ross Associates the College is looking towards the future to support and aid the discovery and relief of creative talent in the UK. The final aim of the initiative is to reach young British black communities, with less access and representation within the arts, and support and advice their pathway through creative education from a much younger age.
For more information on applying for a scholarship at the RCA, visit:
https://www.rca.ac.uk/study/application-process/funding-your-studies/rca-scholarships-and-awards/
Words by Giuliana Zamudio-Lopez
Header image: courtesy of RCA
