Nick Cave to receive Honorary Doctorate from Royal College Of Art

Nick Cave is set to receive an Honorary Doctorate from the Royal College Of Art in London.

• READ MORE: Nick Cave interview: “There’s no metric that says virtuousness makes good art”

The Bad Seeds frontman will be handed the award from the Chancellor of the RCA, Sir Jony Ive, during a ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on the Southbank on Tuesday September 23.

Every year, the RCA – the world’s leading art and design university – awards outstanding individuals with Honorary Doctorates and Honorary Fellowships. Celebrating exceptional accomplishments, these are the highest recognition the College can bestow upon an individual.

Cave’s Honorary Doctorate will be awarded during a Convocation ceremony, alongside over 1,000 students graduating from the RCA in the fields of Design and Communication this year.

It follows Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds releasing their acclaimed 18th studio album, ‘Wild God’, in 2024.

Cave, who is currently out on a European solo tour, has also worked with Warren Ellis to score the new TV adaptation of his 2009 novel The Death Of Bunny Munro. Elsewhere, he has collaborated with The National‘s Bryce Dessner to write a new song for the forthcoming Netflix film Train Dreams.

Last month, Cave teased a “massive” Bad Seeds show in Brighton next year, addressed criticism over his use of AI, and shared his opinion on Amyl And The Sniffers.

In other news, Cave’s side-project Grinderman – also featuring Bad Seeds members Ellis, Martyn Casey and Jim Sclavunos – have reissued their full discography on eco-friendly vinyl and CD.

Speaking to NME in 2023, Cave discussed whether he thought good art could come from nihilism. “I don’t know what comes from nihilism. I don’t think art can come from nihilism at all,” he said. “I don’t know what comes from nihilism. I don’t think art can come from nihilism at all.”

Cave continued: “[…] It seems to me that there is some correlation between transgressive and bad behaviour and good art. It’s no accident that the really great stuff is often made by the most problematic people.

“I don’t quite understand it, but there’s certainly no metric that says that virtuousness makes good art. If you start looking around for the good people who make good art, the conversation shuts down very quickly.”

Other musicians to have received Honorary Doctorates recently include Stormzy and Self Esteem, while Florence Welch and Loyle Carner have both been honoured by the University Of The Arts London. Elsewhere, Damon Albarn earned an honorary degree from the University Of Exeter last summer.

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