Burslem School of Art
Encyclopedia
Burslem School of Art was an art school in Burslem
in the Potteries
district of England
. Students from the school played an important role in the local pottery industry.
In 1985, the school was featured in Pottery Ladies, a series of TV documentaries made for Channel 4
with the support of the Arts Council of Great Britain
. Pottery was made on the site of the school from the Middle Ages
.
founded its own art school, the Burslem
school moving into the Wedgwood Institute
when it was completed in the 1860s. In 1905 the art school moved across the road to new purpose-built accommodation designed by A.R. Wood, a local architect. The new building with its distinctive large windows helped the art school become pre-eminent in the district.
At the time of the foundation of North Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1971, Burslem School of Art was one of three sites used by the Stoke-on-Trent College of Art
. However, the department of Fine Art was subsequently moved from Burslem to the Polytechnic's College Road site, thus leaving the historic Burslem building somewhat underused. The School of Art was listed in 1993.
In recent years the building has undergone something of renaissance with use for studios and exhibitions. In 2008 Burslem public library moved into the building.
, who had designed for Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles
, was principal of the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools in the period 1920-44 and taught at Burslem School of Art.
Reginald George Haggar
, who was Minton's art director
in the 1930s, was the Master-in-Charge of the Burslem School of Art from 1941 to 1945. Other notable staff members included Arthur Berry
who featured in at least two television programmes in the Monitor series
with Huw Weldon.
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
in the Potteries
Potteries
Potteries may refer to:* Pottery, or pottery manufacturing* The Stoke-on-Trent area, known as the Staffordshire Potteries after its once-important ceramics industry...
district of 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...
. Students from the school played an important role in the local pottery industry.
In 1985, the school was featured in Pottery Ladies, a series of TV documentaries made for Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
with the support of the Arts Council of Great Britain
Arts Council of Great Britain
The Arts Council of Great Britain was a non-departmental public body dedicated to the promotion of the fine arts in Great Britain. The Arts Council of Great Britain was divided in 1994 to form the Arts Council of England , the Scottish Arts Council, and the Arts Council of Wales...
. Pottery was made on the site of the school from the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
.
History
The art school originated in 1853. In the nineteenth century each of the towns making up the (future) city of Stoke-on-TrentStoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent , also called The Potteries is a city in Staffordshire, England, which forms a linear conurbation almost 12 miles long, with an area of . Together with the Borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme Stoke forms The Potteries Urban Area...
founded its own art school, the Burslem
Burslem
The town of Burslem, known as the Mother Town, is one of the six towns that amalgamated to form the current city of Stoke-on-Trent, in the ceremonial county of Staffordshire, in the Midlands of England.-Topography:...
school moving into the Wedgwood Institute
Wedgwood Institute
The Wedgwood Institute is a large red-brick building that stands in Queen Street, in the town of Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England...
when it was completed in the 1860s. In 1905 the art school moved across the road to new purpose-built accommodation designed by A.R. Wood, a local architect. The new building with its distinctive large windows helped the art school become pre-eminent in the district.
At the time of the foundation of North Staffordshire Polytechnic in 1971, Burslem School of Art was one of three sites used by the Stoke-on-Trent College of Art
Stoke-on-Trent College of Art
The Stoke-on-Trent Regional College of Art was one of three colleges that were merged in 1971 to form North Staffordshire Polytechnic...
. However, the department of Fine Art was subsequently moved from Burslem to the Polytechnic's College Road site, thus leaving the historic Burslem building somewhat underused. The School of Art was listed in 1993.
In recent years the building has undergone something of renaissance with use for studios and exhibitions. In 2008 Burslem public library moved into the building.
Staff
Gordon ForsythGordon Forsyth
Gordon Mitchell Forsyth was a Scottish ceramic designer. Born in Fraserburgh, he attended the Gray's School of Art, in Aberdeen and the Royal College of Art. Moving in 1903 to Stoke-on-Trent, he became art director of the tileworks Minton Hollins & Co, where he began a career which "spanned over...
, who had designed for Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles
Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles
Pilkington's Lancastrian Pottery & Tiles was a manufacturer of tiles, vases and bowls, based in Clifton, Greater Manchester, England. The company was established in 1892 at Clifton Junction, alongside Fletcher's Canal...
, was principal of the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools in the period 1920-44 and taught at Burslem School of Art.
Reginald George Haggar
Reginald George Haggar
Reginald George Haggar R.I., A.R.C.A., F.R.S.A. was a significant British ceramic designer. He was born in Ipswich and studied at Ipswich School of Art and the Royal College of Art. In 1929 he became assistant designer at Mintons pottery in Stoke-on-Trent, rising to art director six months later,...
, who was Minton's art director
Art director
The art director is a person who supervise the creative process of a design.The term 'art director' is a blanket title for a variety of similar job functions in advertising, publishing, film and television, the Internet, and video games....
in the 1930s, was the Master-in-Charge of the Burslem School of Art from 1941 to 1945. Other notable staff members included Arthur Berry
Arthur Berry
Arthur Berry was an English playwright, poet, teacher and artist, born in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent.Berry was the son of a publican and grew up during the Depression. At the age of 14 he enrolled at Burslem School of Art...
who featured in at least two television programmes in the Monitor series
Monitor (TV series)
Monitor was a BBC arts programme that was launched on 1 September 1958 and ran until 1965.Huw Wheldon was the first editor from 1958 to 1964. He was also the principal interviewer and anchor...
with Huw Weldon.
Notable alumni
- Arthur BerryArthur BerryArthur Berry was an English playwright, poet, teacher and artist, born in Smallthorne, Stoke-on-Trent.Berry was the son of a publican and grew up during the Depression. At the age of 14 he enrolled at Burslem School of Art...
artist and playwright, Berry also taught at his alma mater - William Bowyer (artist)William Bowyer (artist)William Bowyer RA is a contemporary British portrait and landscape painter, who works in a traditional manner.-Life and work:...
- Clarice CliffClarice CliffClarice Cliff was an English ceramic industrial artist active from 1922 to 1963.Cliff was born in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent, England.- Early life :...
ceramic designer - Susie CooperSusie CooperSusie Cooper was a prolific English ceramic designer working in the Stoke-on-Trent pottery industries from the 1920s to the 1980s.-Life and work:Born in Stanfields, Stoke-on-Trent, she was the youngest of seven children...
ceramic designer - Charles TomlinsonCharles TomlinsonAlfred Charles Tomlinson, CBE is a British poet and translator, and also an academic and artist. He was born and raised in Penkhull in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.-Life:...
poet and artist - Sidney TushinghamSidney TushinghamSidney Tushingham was a painter and etcher who specialised in rustic scenes of villages and small town life.He was born in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, England, where he started his artistic career as a china painter. He attended Burslem School of Art and progressed to the Royal College of Art...
etcher - Jessie TaitJessie TaitDorothy Jessie Tait was a prolific English ceramic designer working in the Stoke-on-Trent pottery industries, most prominently for Midwinter, from the 1940s to the 1980s.-Life and work:...
ceramic designer