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Introducing the Central Saint Martins Museum & Study Collection

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An image of a pair of silver shoes
An image of a pair of silver shoes
Chrome shoes, CSM Museum & Study Collection, 31/05/2017. Designer: Sarah Ansah Medium: Polyurethane covered chrome coloured shoes
Written by
Joy Kirigo
Published date
15 July 2025

Who we are

Head of Museum Judy Willcocks, Curriculum Development Curator Sarah Campbell, and Curator Dayna Tohidi make up the team at the CSM Museum & Study Collection, a unique museum set within the College.

The collection was set up in the late 1800s to support the teaching of art and design practices, from printmaking and bookbinding to silversmithing and costume design.

Together, we look after more than 35,000 objects, which include Medieval manuscripts, Japanese woodblock prints, German film posters, fashion alumni garments, and contemporary digital artworks. Browse our full collection online to discover what we have.

We’re here to help you make the most of this valuable resource throughout your time at Central Saint Martins.

  • An image of a pair of socks with a spilt toe design
    Tabi socks, Hardy Amies
  • An image of a bowler hat on top of a box
    Bowler hat and hat box Collection: CSM Museum & Study Collection Designer: Hardy Amies

What we do

We enrich your studies by introducing you to inspiring historic and contemporary work within the field of art and design and helping you do primary research for your coursework.

We deliver object-based learning workshops for Foundation, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate courses across CSM and the wider university.

We curate regular displays in our exhibition space (opposite Waitrose) that respond to the interests and disciplines of our student community.

We collect objects that tell the story of art and design through the lens of the College itself. Since 2022, we’ve been collecting work by graduating students through our annual Graduate Award. Could you be one of our future winners?

  • A painting of Jesus Christ and His Disciples
    Manuscript illumination: Initials C and O, CSM Museum & Study Collection Date: Late 12th century
  • A complex japanese painting
    Nakamara Utaemon III (三代目 中村歌右ヱ門) as Tamamo no Mae (玉藻ノ前) and Toba-e (鳥羽絵, a Comic Drawing)

How you can use us
You can requestan appointment to study objects up close.

Please explore our online catalogue first and then tell us which objects you’d like to see via our team inbox museum.collection@csm.arts.ac.uk. You may find this short video helpful in navigating our online catalogue.

We ask that you contact us two weeks in advance to secure an appointment.

Where you’ll find us
We’re based behind the white wall inside the Lethaby Gallery on the ground floor of the Granary Building, Granary Square, N1C 4AA. The route from the entrance is level access and fully wheelchair accessible, with disabled toilets nearby.

When you arrive, please ask the receptionist to call the Museum and a member of our team will meet you there.

To protect the objects, we do not allow visitors to drink water or eat food inside the study room.