It was founded in 1846 as the Leeds School of Art. From 1968 to 1993 it was known as Jacob Kramer College, after Jacob Kramer, having lost part of its provision to Leeds Polytechnic (the future Leeds Beckett University). It was known as Leeds College of Art and Design until 2009, and then as Leeds College of Art.[7] In August 2017, the school was granted university status and the name was changed to Leeds Arts University.[8]
Skin, DJ, fashion icon, actress, activist and lead singer of Skunk Anansie, was appointed as the university's chancellor in 2021.[9]
Like many of the 'traditional' British art schools, it has a modest annual intake, at 2,145 higher education students in 2023/24. Out of 169 UK higher education institutions, it is the 146th largest.[clarification needed]
^"Leeds College of Art". The Independent. London. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 27 July 2009. It recently changed its name from Leeds College of Art and Design.