![The Dunard Fund Life Drawing Studio The Dunard Fund Life Drawing Studio](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_fill,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_1280,h_720,ar_16:9/dzhb2m3ajbemhcxzsyun.jpg)
Then and now: the new RA Schools
Published on 19 May 2024
To celebrate the reopening of the RA Schools Julia and Hans Rausing Campus after major renovation we’ve delved into the archives to compare yesteryear to the present day.
The Cast Corridor
![Russell Westwood, A student working on a sculpture in the School's Cast Corridor Russell Westwood, A student working on a sculpture in the School's Cast Corridor](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/wouoxy7ueizjvbepopt9.jpeg)
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© The Artist's Estate. © Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London
![The restored Cast Corridor in the RA Schools The restored Cast Corridor in the RA Schools](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/vimr7qmtdk3he86yuypq.jpg)
Photo: David Vintiner
The Shaw Studio
![Russell Westwood, Sir Henry Rushbury R.A. talking to students in the Royal Academy Schools, 1953. Russell Westwood, Sir Henry Rushbury R.A. talking to students in the Royal Academy Schools, 1953.](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/townhdlcqmfjwvmzovbu.jpeg)
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© The Artist's Estate. © Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London
![The Shaw Studio in the RA Schools The Shaw Studio in the RA Schools](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/ml2r0hvqhpsy7lfdkbvk.jpg)
Architectural casts
![Bedford Lemere & Co., Photograph of casts in the Royal Academy Schools Bedford Lemere & Co., Photograph of casts in the Royal Academy Schools](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/befgcwwdzxud2bhlknsx.jpeg)
. 269 mm x 214 mm
© Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London
![Casts in the RA Schools Casts in the RA Schools](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/fdyrkxy6xidrqvt8ains.jpg)
Photo: David Vintiner
The Dunard Fund Life Drawing Studio
![Russell Westwood, Students in the Life Room, the Royal Academy Schools 1953. Russell Westwood, Students in the Life Room, the Royal Academy Schools 1953.](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/rkkixppzscpwfe5cj3og.jpeg)
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© . © Photo: Royal Academy of Arts, London
![The restored Dunard Fund Life Drawing Studio The restored Dunard Fund Life Drawing Studio](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_limit,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_850/q6vqumc0pje8rj6fbt3j.jpg)
Photo: David Vintiner
![RA Schools students attending a talk in the Life Room RA Schools students attending a talk in the Life Room](https://d1inegp6v2yuxm.cloudfront.net/royal-academy/image/upload/c_fill,cs_tinysrgb,dn_72,f_auto,fl_progressive.keep_iptc,w_708,h_398,ar_16:9/w2drndupn5xlv6pqaeni.jpg)
Britain's oldest art school
The RA Schools has been a key part of the Royal Academy since its foundation in 1769. We offer a full-time, three-year programme to 10–17 postgraduate students each year. We charge no fees.