Don't let another portfolio school die - help the SCA 2.0 in London

Last month I took a little tour of Atlanta, Georgia, and made a point of stopping to see the now closed portfolio school there. The creative Circus. Once a legend among US portfolio schools, it struggled with finances and a very pricy tuition which eventually led to the school announcing it's closure by September 2023, after 27 years of putting creativity and Atlanta on the creative industry map.
In December 2023, Virginia Commonwealth University acquired The Creative Circus and promised to relaunch the school in the future.

But driving past that empty, formerly buzzing warehouse building where so many creatives that I personally know put together their first portfolio, I felt so sad to see it.

Now, there is another very important portfolio school out there, on the other side of the pond. It's the School of Communication Arts, and it too, is struggling. Marc Lewis announced this news on Linkedin: Will you help save the School of Communication Arts?

Unlike the Circus, the SCA is keen on getting talent into the industry - not just talent that has enough money to pay expensive tuition for a school. The way that you can help the industry become more class-diverse and inclusive, is to help sponsor the school that sponsors the talents.

Marc explains:

But with four fewer agencies able to support us this year, our finances are wobbling. If the industry doesn’t rally, this could be our final year offering scholarships and bursaries.

We are the last portfolio school in the country, and without support, it’s not just us who lose—it’s the whole industry.

Our website celebrates the sponsors who’ve kept us alive for 15 years.

These companies have funded over 100 scholarships, helping us change hundreds of lives. Their generosity is why our alumni over-index as winners at D&AD, British Arrows, and other awards.

Ironically, Campaign UK’s Tony Cullingham Award, named for a teacher who also felt abandoned by the industry, is exclusively represented by SCA alumni.

We’re not a charity; we give back to the industry with a reciprocity that benefits everyone. In a world of mergers and tightening budgets, we’ve lost some sponsors, and I get it—when things get tight, we can seem like an obvious cut.

But that’s a mistake. We are the last pipeline of top talent, and the industry can’t afford to lose it.

Our guiding star is RECIPROCITY—everyone gains by doing good together. Here’s what sponsorship provides:

• Exclusive access to our students during school and for six months after graduation.
• Year-round engagement through live briefs, feedback, and student development tracking.
• Access to our alumni network at all career levels, with no charge for introductions.
• A learning library, available on demand.
• Talks from eminent speakers who visit the school.
• Custom courses designed for sponsors, often at little or no cost.

Sponsorship levels are £1k, £2k, and £3k per month, with increasing benefits.

Can your company step in to replace the support we’ve lost?