The Council for Higher Education in Art & Design

CHEAD is the association of educational institutions with degree or postgraduate provision in art and design.

About CHEAD

CHEAD provides a voice for and on behalf of higher education art and design in the UK four nations advancing knowledge and understanding in the sector and promoting the sector’s interests to others. We carry out research, scan the policy horizon, brief our members, facilitate networking opportunities for senior staff from within and outside HE as well as helping to shape higher education art and design policy on our members’ behalf. We facilitate specialist internal networks supporting art and design research leaders, Subject Associations, and HE gallery leaders.

Members

Art & design graduates each year

Value of research income in millions

Students and facilities at London College of Communication UAL Photo © Alys Tomlinson

The transposition to digital: Creative education in online spaces

Join us for a pop-up, pop-in mini ‘converence’ (a conference by conversation) discussing innovation in Designing for Digital Delivery.

Find our more

Gallery Alliance

As part of its specialist professional networks, CHEAD supports a Gallery Alliance to provide a professional network for colleagues with Galleries and Collection in the CHEAD membership. The Alliance promotes knowledge and understanding throughout and beyond the gallery network and also promotes and shares best practice between members and associated gallery networks.

Learn More

It was my first visit to such an event - having only recently been made course leader. I found the experience very valuable, not only in terms of the discussions and presentations but also as a social / networking event. It's good to feel part of a community. The organisation and hospitality was incredibly well organised and welcomed

– University of Cumbria

I have to say I thought the day was excellent - as per usual - each talk sparked many ideas of how we could make significant improvements in Portsmouth. I have decided that these need to be attended by more than one person from my School / Faculty going forward though, and then try and clear the day following to discuss and digest through follow up planning meetings! Thanks again for another excellent day and for all your hard work at CHEAD.

– University of Portsmouth

Latest News & Resources

Advocacy – An open letter from CHEAD

Jun 1, 2020

In an open letter to the Secretaries of State for Universities and Science, Research and Innovation CHEAD outlined the need for policy to engage with arts, media and design higher education by valuing the sector’s extraordinary response to the Covid-19 crisis.

The Market for Craft

May 30, 2020

The Market for Craft Blog kindly provided by Julia Bennett, Head of Research and Policy, Crafts Council The Market for Craft shows how our passion for craft has never been greater - craft is increasingly important to consumers. The first report to identify and gauge...

Design Sector and Covid-19

May 26, 2020

COVID-19 and challenges for the design sector Article provided by Jack Tindale All-Party Parliamentary Group for Design and Innovation. Few sectors of the economy punch above their weight like design. According to research by the Design Council, the value of the...

Members’ Gallery

Higher education art and design sits at the heart of the UK’s world leading creative industries. Visit our gallery to view more work produced within CHEAD member institutions.

In addition, we run a network for staff from CHEAD member galleries. Find out more information about the network.

View the full gallery

Member Profiles

Newcastle University

Our reputation is built on world-leading teaching, alongside world-leading research, disseminated in the form of publications, exhibitions, installations and interventions.

More Info

Leeds School of Arts

Leeds School of Arts, with a history that spans over 170 years is united by a common goal: to encourage individuality, to inspire creativity, and to create impact.