Sir Henry Cole’s life achievements are impressive and very varied - Instigator of the Great Exhibition of 1851, Founder of the Royal Albert Hall, First Director of the V&A, Reformer of the National Archives, Campaigner for the penny black, Inventor of the Christmas card, to name a few.
Once nicknamed 'King Cole's Court' The Royal Society of Arts played a crucial role in his success.
'We must have steam, get Cole' - Prince Albert
Known for his relentless energy, passion and zeal for improvement, Cole's crusade in improving arts and culture for the masses created groundbreaking institutes that are still thriving today.
Come along and discover his fascinating story told by RSA Fellow Alice MacDonnell - his Great (x4) Granddaughter and Founder of A to Z Arts - who has been piecing together his legacy, while reinstating his rightful place in our history books.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to delve into the life of a visionary who truly shaped Britain’s cultural landscape.
Taking part in RSA in-person events
To participate in the event, you will need to register for a ticket so we can make sure we have an up-to-date list of those who plan on attending. If you wish to register another attendee, this must be done separately using a different email address. This is for capacity purposes. We encourage all attendees that are ill or showing symptoms of illness to stay home and to cancel your Eventbrite ticket if you are no longer able to join the event.
At the RSA, we strive to create inclusive and supportive environments for all Fellows. We recognise that individuals may require different forms of support to fully participate in our events and activities. Therefore, we welcome and encourage Fellows to bring the support they feel is necessary, whether it be a carer, an emotional support animal, or any other form of assistance. We ask that you fill out the accessibility requirements box in your Eventbrite booking form in advance of attending one of our events to ensure that the venues can accommodate such requirements. Our aim is to ensure that everyone feels comfortable and valued, and we are committed to accommodating diverse needs to foster an inclusive community.
Data: By registering for this event, you consent to receiving communications about this event, both before and after, and you agree to the sharing of your name, organisation & title with the Fellow(s) and/or partner organisation(s) hosting this event. Attendees also agree to the sharing of their name and organisation with other delegates at the event so that they might contact you through MyRSA. If you do not wish this information to be shared, please let us know by emailing: fellowship@rsa.org.uk. The information you provide when registering for an event will be retained by the RSA and will be used to record attendance at the event. To understand more about how the RSA uses your data, please see our Privacy Policy.
Please be aware that registrations will close two hours before the event is due to start.
