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The Northern School of Art has been awarded the donation from the estate of Sir Ken Adam and Lady Letizia Adam, marking a lasting tribute to Sir Ken’s support of new and emerging talent in the film and television industry.
Sir Ken Adam, renowned for designing many of the iconic sets featured in James Bond films and for his work on Stanley Kubrick’s Dr Strangelove and Barry Lyndon, is widely regarded as one of cinema’s most influential production designers.
Dr Martin Raby, principal of The Northern School of Art, said: “This hugely generous donation is a fantastic recognition of the quality of the School’s provision and will enable us to increase opportunities and support for our students.
“Sir Ken Adam’s work shaped some of the most memorable films ever made, and the recognition of our course as one of the best the country to develop future production designers is incredibly special.
“This support will allow us to help our students to access experiences and projects that might otherwise be out of reach.”
The legacy acknowledges the school’s BA (Hons) Set Design for Stage and Screen course, which has run for more than 30 years and is considered one of the UK’s leading programmes in the field.
The Northern School of Art is one of only two undergraduate programmes in the UK to receive the donation.
The funding will be used to expand opportunities for students developing skills in set design, prop making and production design.
The bequest was awarded following consultation between the trustees of the Adam charitable fund and Professor Sir Christopher Frayling, a leading authority on Sir Ken Adam’s life and legacy.
Sir Christopher’s academic work has played a key role in recognising Sir Ken’s influence on the visual language of modern cinema.
Plans for the funding are currently being developed in collaboration with the trustees, with proposals including bursaries or awards for outstanding student work in production design.
The announcement comes during a period of growth in the UK’s screen industries and a rising demand for skilled production designers.
Students on the set design course develop expertise in scenic construction, model making, prop making, and visual storytelling, preparing them for careers in film, television, theatre and immersive media.
Dr Raby said: “The Adam legacy will help to ensure that future generations of students continue to benefit from opportunities that support their transition from education into the professional screen industries.”
The Northern School of Art is the only specialist arts and design institution in the North East, with campuses in Middlesbrough and Hartlepool.
The Middlesbrough campus offers a range of further education programmes, while the Hartlepool campus delivers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees across the visual arts, stage, and screen disciplines.
Recent projects by set design students include the creation of central pieces for the S&DR 200 performance, and work on sets ranging from pirate ships and railway stations to historic Chinese apothecaries.
The Middlesbrough campus was rated Outstanding by Ofsted in 2025, and the Hartlepool campus received a Gold award in the 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework from the Office for Students.
Sir Ken Adam’s career spanned more than five decades, during which he set new standards for visual storytelling on screen through a bold, futuristic style.
His legacy continues to inspire film professionals and students alike, and the donation aims to help cultivate the next generation of production design talent.
The Northern School of Art has expressed its deep gratitude to the Adam estate and the trustees for their confidence in the school and its students.
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