Birmingham School of Art
Encyclopedia
The Birmingham School of Art was a municipal art school based in the centre of Birmingham
, England
. Although the organisation was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and is now part of Birmingham City University
's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
, its Grade I listed building on Margaret Street remains the home of the university's Department of Fine Art and is still commonly referred to by its original title.
, who founded the Birmingham Government School of Design in 1843. George Wallis
(1811-1891), Wolverhampton-born artist and art educator, was its Headmaster in 1852-1858.
In 1877, the Town Council
was persuaded by the school's energetic headmaster Edward R. Taylor
to take the school over and expand it to form the United Kingdom
's first municipal college of art. With funding coming from Sir Richard and George Tangye
, the current building was commissioned from architect J H Chamberlain.
In 1885, the school became the first Municipal School of Art. It later becomes the leading centre for the Arts and Crafts Movement
.
An associated School of Architecture was formed in 1909 and received recognition by the Royal Institute of British Architects
in 1923. By the 1960s, the School had outgrown the original Margaret Street building and expanded into the campus of the University of Aston in Gosta Green
.
In 1971, with the founding of Birmingham Polytechnic, the School of Art lost its independence and became the Polytechnic's Faculty of Art and Design. In 1988, this in turn absorbed the former Bournville College of Art to form the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
, the largest centre for education in art, design and the media in the United Kingdom
outside London
. Birmingham Polytechnic gained university
status in 1992 as the University of Central England
.
(£10,937) and Louisa Ryland
(£10,000). The site was given from the Newhall estate by William Barwick Cregoe Colmore.
It is a red-brick Victorian Gothic structure, completed after its architect J. H. Chamberlain
's death by his partner William Martin
and his son Frederick Martin, and widely considered as Chamberlain's masterpiece. Its Venetian
style and naturalistic decoration are heavily influenced by John Ruskin's
Stones of Venice. The foundation stone was laid on 31 May 1884 and the building was opened in September 1885.
An extension from the north end, running east along Cornwall Street was added by Martin & Chamberlain
in 1892–93.
A continuous plinth band of Doultons tilework containing lozenges lilies and sunflowers on blue backgrounds runs around the building. The original iron railings were made by Hart & Co..
In 1992, the cleaning of the exterior was completed after two years and the refurbishment and renovation of the interior began in 1993, ending in 1996. The work was undertaken by Associated Architects
following completion of the Birmingham School of Jewellery
also for Birmingham City University.
David Prentice painter
John Walker painter
Barrie Cook painter
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Although the organisation was absorbed by Birmingham Polytechnic in 1971 and is now part of Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design is the largest British university art and design teaching and research centre outside London. It is a faculty of Birmingham City University and the largest, most successful department of the university.-History:BIAD dates back, in various incarnations, to...
, its Grade I listed building on Margaret Street remains the home of the university's Department of Fine Art and is still commonly referred to by its original title.
History
The origins of the School of Art lie with the Royal Birmingham Society of ArtistsRoyal Birmingham Society of Artists
The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists or RBSA is a learned society of artists and an art gallery based in the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England. it is both a registered charity. and a registered company The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists or RBSA is a learned society of artists and an...
, who founded the Birmingham Government School of Design in 1843. George Wallis
George Wallis
George Wallis, FSA, , artist, museum curator and art educator, was the first Keeper of Fine Art Collection at South Kensington Museum .-Early years:...
(1811-1891), Wolverhampton-born artist and art educator, was its Headmaster in 1852-1858.
In 1877, the Town Council
Birmingham City Council
The Birmingham City Council is the body responsible for the governance of the City of Birmingham in England, which has been a metropolitan district since 1974. It is the most populated local authority in the United Kingdom with, following a reorganisation of boundaries in June 2004, 120 Birmingham...
was persuaded by the school's energetic headmaster Edward R. Taylor
Edward R. Taylor
Edward Richard Taylor RBSA was an English artist and educator. He painted in both oils and watercolours.Taylor taught at the Lincoln School of Art and became influential in the Arts and Crafts movement as the first headmaster at the Birmingham Municipal School of Arts and Crafts from 1877-1903.In...
to take the school over and expand it to form the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's first municipal college of art. With funding coming from Sir Richard and George Tangye
Richard Tangye
Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye was a British manufacturer of engines and other heavy equipment.-Biography:...
, the current building was commissioned from architect J H Chamberlain.
In 1885, the school became the first Municipal School of Art. It later becomes the leading centre for the Arts and Crafts Movement
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
.
An associated School of Architecture was formed in 1909 and received recognition by the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
in 1923. By the 1960s, the School had outgrown the original Margaret Street building and expanded into the campus of the University of Aston in Gosta Green
Gosta Green
Gosta Green is an area in the city of Birmingham, England. It lies at the edge of the city centre, about three-quarters of a mile to the north-east of Birmingham New Street station via Corporation St or the High St....
.
In 1971, with the founding of Birmingham Polytechnic, the School of Art lost its independence and became the Polytechnic's Faculty of Art and Design. In 1988, this in turn absorbed the former Bournville College of Art to form the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
Birmingham Institute of Art and Design
The Birmingham Institute of Art and Design is the largest British university art and design teaching and research centre outside London. It is a faculty of Birmingham City University and the largest, most successful department of the university.-History:BIAD dates back, in various incarnations, to...
, the largest centre for education in art, design and the media in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
outside London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Birmingham Polytechnic gained university
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
status in 1992 as the University of Central England
Birmingham City University
Birmingham City University is a British university in the city of Birmingham, England. It is the second largest of three universities in the city, the other two being the Aston University and University of Birmingham...
.
Building
The building cost £21,254, and was sponsored by donations from the Tangye brothersRichard Tangye
Sir Richard Trevithick Tangye was a British manufacturer of engines and other heavy equipment.-Biography:...
(£10,937) and Louisa Ryland
Louisa Ryland
Louisa Ann Ryland was a major benefactor to the town of Birmingham, England. Her donations included several large areas of land that were used to create public parks. The largest of these, donated in 1873, was some and became Cannon Hill Park. She also contributed to the building of Birmingham...
(£10,000). The site was given from the Newhall estate by William Barwick Cregoe Colmore.
It is a red-brick Victorian Gothic structure, completed after its architect J. H. Chamberlain
John Henry Chamberlain
John Henry Chamberlain , generally known professionally as J H Chamberlain, was a nineteenth century English architect....
's death by his partner William Martin
William Martin (architect)
William Martin was a Victorian architect who worked in Birmingham, England, particularly in the practice Martin & Chamberlain.Born in Somerset in 1829 he joined a Birmingham architect called Thomson Plevins, and then became a partner of D. R. Hill, public works architect of early 19th century...
and his son Frederick Martin, and widely considered as Chamberlain's masterpiece. Its Venetian
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
style and naturalistic decoration are heavily influenced by John Ruskin's
Ruskin
- Surname :*John Ruskin , an English author, poet and artist, most famous for his work as art critic and social critic, and for his writing on the architecture of Venice....
Stones of Venice. The foundation stone was laid on 31 May 1884 and the building was opened in September 1885.
An extension from the north end, running east along Cornwall Street was added by Martin & Chamberlain
Martin & Chamberlain
John Henry Chamberlain, William Martin, and Frederick Martin were architects in Victorian Birmingham, England. Their names are attributed singly or pairs to many red brick and terracotta buildings, particularly 41 of the forty-odd Birmingham board schools made necessary by the Elementary Education...
in 1892–93.
A continuous plinth band of Doultons tilework containing lozenges lilies and sunflowers on blue backgrounds runs around the building. The original iron railings were made by Hart & Co..
In 1992, the cleaning of the exterior was completed after two years and the refurbishment and renovation of the interior began in 1993, ending in 1996. The work was undertaken by Associated Architects
Associated Architects
thumb|right|Associated Architects' Offices at [[The Mailbox]], Birminghamthumb|right|RIBA Award Winner 2009, David Wilson LibraryAssociated Architects is a leading architectural firm based in Birmingham, England. The practice has a broad portfolio of work including arts, commercial offices, housing...
following completion of the Birmingham School of Jewellery
Birmingham School of Jewellery
Birmingham School of Jewellery, founded in 1890, is a jewellery school in Birmingham, England. Located on Vittoria Street in the city's Jewellery Quarter, it is the largest jewellery school in Europe...
also for Birmingham City University.
Alumni
- Ian EmesIan EmesIan Ronald Emes is a British animator and film director, from Handsworth, Birmingham, England, known for his work with Pink Floyd, who have used his animated films as back-projections in concert and released them as extras on their DVDs...
, animator and film director
David Prentice painter
John Walker painter
Barrie Cook painter