A FUNDRAISING appeal has been launched by Arts University Bournemouth to support the construction of a dedicated drawing studio.

The new studio, which has been designed by former student and internationally acclaimed architect and author, Professor Sir Peter Cook, will provide a space at the Wallisdown campus in which the traditional skill of drawing can be taught and practiced.

It is the first building to be designed by Professor Sir Peter Cook in the UK and will be accessible to students from all courses across the University.

The studio enables all creative artists working in any genre to be in the same space together, from costume designers, to architects, animators to etchers. It also offers an excuse to share and observe others’ work.

AUB has a series of planned building schemes to add to the already existing facilities at the campus and the drawing studio is the first stage of these future projects.

The appeal aims to raise funds of at least £1million over the forthcoming months and it is hoped that both corporate benefactors and private individuals will wish to be associated with the importance of this new landmark building to the region.

The investment in the drawing studio, which is due to be completed later this year, is more than £2 million with £20 million being invested in a range of campus developments over the next two years.

University Chancellor, Sir Christopher Frayling, said he believed basic drawing skills underpinned all arts disciplines and that maintaining its profile within an evolving digital world was critical.

He added: ‘‘Drawing is the ‘grammar’ on which everything else in an arts school is based - you neglect it at your peril. It is not nostalgic or backward looking in any way. It is a great pledge for the future that Bournemouth is getting this building, it is going to be a huge attraction.’

AUB Principal and Vice Chancellor, Stuart Bartholomew added: ‘‘This is an important addition to the campus and will be a strong architectural feature as you arrive at the site.

"Our appeal will enable us to complete this wonderful facility, which will help all of our students for many years to come. Being unique across the globe, it also offers the potential for benefactors to be associated with Professor Sir Peter Cook’s one off piece of work in Britain which we feel very privileged to have here.’’