Image shows groups of people enjoying looking at variery of artworks in ECA's Sculpture Court on the opening night of the 2023 Graduate Show

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Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) brings together creative practices that shape the world around us.

We deliver innovative teaching, research and public engagement in an inclusive and sustainable environment with outstanding services and facilities to support your ambitions. 

Located in the historic Old Town of one of the world’s greatest cultural cities, we are part of the University of Edinburgh. The University is consistently ranked one of the best 50 universities in the world.

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News and features

Jamie stands next to his airline seat. He is smiling, and is wearing a red and black tartan suit. The airline seat is a greenish grey, with a design including two curved lines, with a darker colour between them.

Jamie and his airline seat at the V&A Dundee

Airline seat for neurodivergent passengers exhibited at V&A Dundee

The prototype was created by ECA alumnus Jamie O’Donnell, who now works as a designer for Scottish leather firm Muirhead.

Dong, Isabel and Mervin, smartly dressed, hold their certificates

Goldsmiths Craftsmanship and Design Awards - L-R: Dong Ding, Isabel Honey Coles, and Mervin (Qiwei) Liu

Jewellery & Silversmithing students and alumni shine at awards

The Goldsmiths' Craft and Design Council, the British Art Medal Society, and The Cutlers' Company, all recognised achievements from our students and alumni this year.

Painted rectangles and circles in a wide range of colours have been artfully painted on a wall.

One of the new wall paintings inside the St Andrew's Children's Society in Leith, Edinburgh.

Image: Fiona McLachlan

ESALA staff and students complete live colour installation project

Led by Professor Fiona McLachlan, the client was St Andrew’s Children’s Society in Edinburgh.

Carmen Thomson, Abby Gilman and Dr Nichola Dobson stand in front of a black board with a logo repeated across it – a gold shape like an angular, abstracted face in profile, and the words Royal Television Society Scotland.

L-R Carmen Thomson, Abby Gilman and Dr Nichola Dobson at the Awards. Image: Peter Sandground

Peter Sandground

Animation alumna wins at RTS Scotland Student Awards

Abby Gilman’s stop frame puppet animation, a meditation on grief and healing, impressed the Royal Television Society judges, and was chosen from a shortlist consisting entirely of ECA graduates.

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A piece of red material stretched across a wall. It features objects such as hats, boots, cutlery embroidered on it. Erin Kingsley, BA (Hons) Textiles
Graduate Show

Our Graduate Show website is live!

View works by our graduating students
A range of colourful 3D circles of different sizes are on a black background. The text reads 'artful inquiry'.
Research

ECA research podcast: Artful Inquiry

Explore the cutting-edge research shaping our world in the Edinburgh College of Art podcast.

Find out more about our research podcast
Two music students working on mixers and computers in a recording room.
Research

Research as inquiry and experiment

ECA is a vibrant and internationally-engaged interdisciplinary hub for creative innovation embedded within the world-leading University of Edinburgh.

Find out more about our research

Upcoming Events

27 Jun '26
27 Sep '26
10:00 - 17:00
A sculpture of a hand with the third finger broken off. The hand is resting on a piece of wood, with small pieces of metal around it.
Exhibition Talbot Rice Gallery Exhibitions Talbot Rice Gallery: Anne Hardy British artist Anne Hardy presents a new installation entitled Feelings at the Talbot Rice Gallery.
Anne Hardy
Talbot Rice Gallery, Old College, South Bridge, Edinburgh, EH8 9YL
24 Jul '26
26 Jul '26
10:00 - 17:00
White text reading 2026 Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Showcase, placed on top of a teal background.
Exhibition Graduate Show 2026 Edinburgh College of Art Postgraduate Showcase | Exhibition Edinburgh College of Art welcomes visitors to an exhibition of work by postgraduate students across Art and Design.
Various
Edinburgh College of Art Main Building, 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF
28 Jul '26
18:30 - 20:30
A corner of the exhibition, Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South, Mississippi Museum of Art 2025, featuring two quilted pieces of work.
Lecture ECA Talks Alchemizing the Everyday Join us at Edinburgh College of Art to hear from US curator Dr Sharbreon Plummer, known for her recent exhibition Of Salt and Spirit: Black Quilters in the American South, Mississippi Museum of Art 2025.
Dr Sharbreon Plummer
Edinburgh College of Art Main Building, Main Lecture Theatre (E22), 74 Lauriston Place, Edinburgh, EH3 9DF
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