Here East Welcomes Italian Art & Design School NABA

Italy's largest Academy of Fine Arts, NABA offers academic diplomas equivalent to first and second level university degrees in the fields of design, fashion design, graphics and communication, multimedia arts, new technologies, set design, visual arts, as well as PhD and Special Programmes. It is recognised by QS World University Rankings as the best Academy of Fine Arts in Italy and among the top 100 universities globally for Art & Design.

With existing campuses in Milan and Rome, their new campus at Here East is a 17,047 sq ft facility – purpose-built to create at scale – which will offer a spectrum of creative courses as well as state-of-the-art facilities and student services.

This partnership is testament to Here East and NABA’s shared vision: Nurturing creative talent to design tomorrow's cultural landscape through innovation and industry. The new facility will also champion sustainability and digital innovation, reflecting both Here East's commitment to future-focused creative industries and NABA's sustainability manifesto.

Welcoming NABA to our campus, Gavin Poole, CEO of Here East, said:

"London has long been a global point of reference for fashion design, artistic and creative education, and East London, as a centre for design, culture and innovation, is a key driver of the sector’s growth. The arrival of NABA is further validation of this and of the Here East model. By delivering highly specialised infrastructure that meets the requirements of a global design academy of NABA’s stature, we are creating a unique environment that provides the talent and innovation required for the next generation of global creative businesses.”

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, NABA will offer courses on our campus – including three BAs in Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing Management, as well as a Foundation Course. Students will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, including design, fashion, textile, and knitwear labs, along with comprehensive student services including career support, visa assistance, and counselling. Participants who complete the three-year courses will obtain a BA (Hons) Degree accredited by Regent’s University London.

Expressing what joining Here East means to them, Diego Mattiolo, School Director and Head of Education of the new NABA Campus in London

"Here East represents everything we look for in a creative community: dynamism, collaboration, and a shared commitment to nurturing the next generation of creative talent. The campus's unique blend of universities and cultural institutions creates an environment where our students won't just learn, they'll actively contribute to shaping the future of our creative industries.”

From the former Olympic Broadcast Centre to the multi-award-winning campus it has become today, Here East was designed as a place for cultural institutions and businesses that want the space to experiment and grow – now home to over 30 organisations and more than 6,500 people working and studying on site.

NABA’s arrival not only enhances Here East’s thriving creative ecosystem – joining leading companies and cultural institutions including Studio Wayne McGregor, Hawk London, the V&A East Storehouse, and The Trampery on the Gantry – it is also emblematic of a cultural movement beyond the boundaries of our campus.

Against the backdrop of the UK Government publishing its Industrial Strategy last year – which named the creative industries as one of the country’s eight critical sectors – NABA opening alongside the growing creative cluster across the Queen Elizabeth Park and East Bank further strengthens East London’s position as a cultural hub and pillar of one of the UK’s top growth-driving sectors.