Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design


(Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art)

A constituent part of the University of Dundee, the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design has its origins in art classes taught in the Dundee Technical Institute from 1892. In 1909, James Duncan of Jordanstone left £60,000 to establish an independent art school in the Dundee. However, a legal dispute ensued as the Technical Institute tried to prevent a break-away and it was not until the 1930s that this was resolved. Although foundations for a new building were laid, the Second World War prevented progress. It took until 1953 for work to recommence on the building which the College still occupies today, based on designs which the Glasgow-based architect James Wallace (1893 - 1969) had prepared twenty years earlier. The Crawford Building, as it is now known, was completed in 1955, extended in 1969, 1973 and again in 1978. The brutalist concrete Matthew Building was added 1969-74, designed by Professor James Paul, who was Head of the School of Architecture, which was at that time part of the College.

The College finally gained full independence from the Dundee Institute of Technology in 1975, although this was short-lived as it merged with the University of Dundee in 1994. It now offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses including traditional fine art, textiles, jewellery design, graphic design, film, animation and digital media. The College has a well-regarded library and an expanding collection of art-works.


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