• NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti – Italy’s largest Academy of Fine Arts, chooses Here East for its first footprint outside of Italy, and will offer courses in a range of creative fields in a purpose-built 17,047 sq ft facility on the campus
  • NABA’s arrival enhances Here East’s creative and education ecosystem, joining five universities already on site alongside the V&A East Storehouse, and Studio Wayne McGregor

London, 12th March, 2026 – Delancey’s Here East, the award-winning campus on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, today announces that NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti, Italy’s largest Academy of Fine Arts, has established itself on campus, in a combined 17,047 sq ft facility, purpose-built to create at scale.

NABA, 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, will join Here East’s thriving ecosystem of creative academic institutions, technology companies, and cultural organisations. The partnership brings together two organisations united by a shared vision: nurturing creative talent to design tomorrow’s cultural landscape through innovation and industry.

Originally the International Broadcast Centre for the 2012 Olympic Games, Here East has since become one of the most successful examples of post-Games regeneration in modern Olympic history. The 1.2 million sq ft campus is now home to over 30 organisations, including five of the UK’s leading universities, Studio Wayne McGregor, Sports Interactive, the V&A East Storehouse and The Trampery on the Gantry; a village of studios for designers and creative entrepreneurs.

From the start of the 2026/27 academic year, NABA will offer three BAs in Design, Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing Management, as well as Integrated Foundation Courses. 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.

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.

According to independent analysis by Oxford Economics, Here East supports over 10,000 jobs across the UK, with 5,000 of these in the surrounding East London boroughs. Tenants on the campus report faster growth in revenue, headcount, and ambition, evidence of a place designed to help organisations and individuals scale at pace.

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.”

Diego Mattiolo, School Director and Head of Education of the new NABA Campus in London said:  “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.”

Jamie Ritblat, Executive Chairman and Founder of Delancey said: “The arrival of NABA further demonstrates Delancey’s strategic focus on building high-value spaces for creative, cultural and tech institutions to grow. This reinforces Here East’s role as a primary driver of London’s creative economy and a blueprint for successful, large-scale urban regeneration.”