Stoke-on-Trent College of Art
Encyclopedia
The Stoke-on-Trent Regional College of Art was one of three colleges that were merged in 1971 to form North Staffordshire Polytechnic (later renamed as Staffordshire Polytechnic and now Staffordshire University
). The College of Art had achieved Regional Art College status after the Second World War, but its roots lay in the nineteenth century as it was formed from three of the Potteries´ art schools. Although the six towns which make up Stoke-on-Trent were a relatively small conurbation, each had its own art school: those at Fenton, Hanley and Tunstall had closed by the time the Regional College of Art was created, leaving Burslem, Longton and Stoke.
had a distinguished history and continued to be the home of the Department of Fine Art for some years after the formation of North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Staff at Burslem included Arthur Berry
who taught at the Polytechnic until 1985 by which time Fine Art had moved to College Road.
In 1962 the Advanced Diploma in Art & Design (Ceramics) was offered by the Stoke-on-Trent Regional College of Art. Later, with the merger of the National Council for Diplomas in Art & Design and the Council for National Academic Awards
, this was to become the first MA (Master of Arts) postgraduate course in North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
After the formation of the North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Colin Melbourne, the sculptor and ceramic designer, who was Head of Ceramic Design at Longton became Head of Fine Arts in the new institution.
the sculptor, who designed the portrait of the Queen which has appeared on postage stamps since 1967 (the Machin series
).
In 1964 Graphic Design & Printing relocated to the Technical College site in Stoke (the present Staffordshire University College Road campus). Printing education was a feature of the Stoke School and many advances in ceramic transfer printing
(particularly in offset lithography
) were first developed there by the Deardens (father and son) before their wider adoption by the ceramics industry.
of the 1920s and 1930s. Students were able to choose from a range of design subject areas and to combine them in solving design problems often located in the local community. The design disciplines available then were: typography; illustration, scientific & medical illustration; photography; audio-visual communication; textiles; industrial ceramics; ceramic sculpture; glass; silverware & jewellery; and product design.
In the early seventies the Department of the History of Art & Design and Complementary Studies was established. Again this was forward looking in establishing the study of the history of art and design as an academic discipline in its own right.
In the early seventies research into letterform design for cathode ray tube
s was carried out in collaboration with International Computers Limited (ICL) in Kidsgrove by staff and students in the Department of Graphic Design, North Staffordshire Polytechnic. In the same period collaborative research into computer-assisted typesetting was carried out with The Monotype Corporation
.
By the end of the seventies both Design Departments (Graphic Design and Three-Dimensional Design) were actively involved in many aspects of information technology and computing applied to design. In this particular application of computers the Departments were pioneers and amongst the first in the country. In 1982 the Department of Trade and Industry sponsored an exhibition (IT82) outlining the advantages of computing and Information Technology for industry. The Design Departments were successful in persuading the DTI to locate this travelling exhibition on the College Road campus – the only visit for the north Midlands. The pioneering involvement in the applications of computing to Design was to lead to the development of the first BTEC
Course in Multimedia Design. In conjunction with the Department of Computing the first degree course in Interactive Systems Design in the United Kingdom was developed.
In the eighties the Design Departments became involved in research for the computer-aided design of ceramic shapes using solid modelling techniques, and surface pattern designs using advanced computer graphics. The experience gained in this area was to be used in the early planning of the Hothouse Design Centre located in Longton.
Staffordshire University
Staffordshire University is a university with its main campus based in the city of Stoke-on-Trent, and with other campuses in Stafford, Lichfield and Shrewsbury.- History :...
). The College of Art had achieved Regional Art College status after the Second World War, but its roots lay in the nineteenth century as it was formed from three of the Potteries´ art schools. Although the six towns which make up Stoke-on-Trent were a relatively small conurbation, each had its own art school: those at Fenton, Hanley and Tunstall had closed by the time the Regional College of Art was created, leaving Burslem, Longton and Stoke.
Burslem
Burslem School of ArtBurslem School of Art
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....
had a distinguished history and continued to be the home of the Department of Fine Art for some years after the formation of North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Staff at Burslem 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 taught at the Polytechnic until 1985 by which time Fine Art had moved to College Road.
Longton
The Departments of Ceramics and Fashion and Textiles were housed in the Sutherland Institute, Longton.In 1962 the Advanced Diploma in Art & Design (Ceramics) was offered by the Stoke-on-Trent Regional College of Art. Later, with the merger of the National Council for Diplomas in Art & Design and the Council for National Academic Awards
Council for National Academic Awards
The Council for National Academic Awards was a degree awarding authority in the United Kingdom from 1965 until 1992. The CNAA awarded academic degrees at polytechnics, Central Institutions and other non-university institutions such as Colleges of Higher Education until they were awarded university...
, this was to become the first MA (Master of Arts) postgraduate course in North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
After the formation of the North Staffordshire Polytechnic, Colin Melbourne, the sculptor and ceramic designer, who was Head of Ceramic Design at Longton became Head of Fine Arts in the new institution.
Stoke
The Stoke College of Art was housed in the Herbert Minton Building in London Road from the mid 1850s. Amongst the artists who were educated in the Stoke School was Arnold MachinArnold Machin
Arnold Machin O.B.E, R.A. was a British artist, sculptor, coin and stamp designer.Machin was born in Stoke-on-Trent in 1911. He started work at the age of 14 as an apprentice china painter at the Minton Pottery. During the Depression he learnt to sculpt at Stoke-on-Trent's Art School, which was...
the sculptor, who designed the portrait of the Queen which has appeared on postage stamps since 1967 (the Machin series
Machin series
The Machin series of postage stamps is the main definitive stamp series in the United Kingdom, used since 5 June 1967. It is the second series to figure the image of Elizabeth II, replacing the Wilding series....
).
In 1964 Graphic Design & Printing relocated to the Technical College site in Stoke (the present Staffordshire University College Road campus). Printing education was a feature of the Stoke School and many advances in ceramic transfer printing
Transfer-print
Transfer printing is a mass-production method of applying an image to a curved or uneven surface. It is most commonly used for printing on porcelain and other hard surfaced pottery.Transfer printing evolved in England in the 1750s...
(particularly in offset lithography
Offset printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...
) were first developed there by the Deardens (father and son) before their wider adoption by the ceramics industry.
Developments in Art Education at North Staffordshire Polytechnic
In 1973 the Departments of Graphic Design and Three-Dimensional Design (the latter being the renamed Department of Ceramics) combined their resources to offer a new and unique course in Multidisciplinary Design. This concept of Multidisciplinary Design echoed much of the philosophy of the BauhausBauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
of the 1920s and 1930s. Students were able to choose from a range of design subject areas and to combine them in solving design problems often located in the local community. The design disciplines available then were: typography; illustration, scientific & medical illustration; photography; audio-visual communication; textiles; industrial ceramics; ceramic sculpture; glass; silverware & jewellery; and product design.
In the early seventies the Department of the History of Art & Design and Complementary Studies was established. Again this was forward looking in establishing the study of the history of art and design as an academic discipline in its own right.
In the early seventies research into letterform design for cathode ray tube
Cathode ray tube
The cathode ray tube is a vacuum tube containing an electron gun and a fluorescent screen used to view images. It has a means to accelerate and deflect the electron beam onto the fluorescent screen to create the images. The image may represent electrical waveforms , pictures , radar targets and...
s was carried out in collaboration with International Computers Limited (ICL) in Kidsgrove by staff and students in the Department of Graphic Design, North Staffordshire Polytechnic. In the same period collaborative research into computer-assisted typesetting was carried out with The Monotype Corporation
Monotype Corporation
Monotype Imaging Holdings is a Delaware corporation based in Woburn, Massachusetts and specializing in typesetting and typeface design as well as text and imaging solutions for use with consumer electronics devices. Monotype Imaging Holdings is the owner of Monotype Imaging Inc., Linotype,...
.
By the end of the seventies both Design Departments (Graphic Design and Three-Dimensional Design) were actively involved in many aspects of information technology and computing applied to design. In this particular application of computers the Departments were pioneers and amongst the first in the country. In 1982 the Department of Trade and Industry sponsored an exhibition (IT82) outlining the advantages of computing and Information Technology for industry. The Design Departments were successful in persuading the DTI to locate this travelling exhibition on the College Road campus – the only visit for the north Midlands. The pioneering involvement in the applications of computing to Design was to lead to the development of the first BTEC
Business And Technology Education Council (BTEC)
The Business and Technology Education Council is the British body which awards vocational qualifications. Such qualifications are commonly referred to as "BTECs"....
Course in Multimedia Design. In conjunction with the Department of Computing the first degree course in Interactive Systems Design in the United Kingdom was developed.
In the eighties the Design Departments became involved in research for the computer-aided design of ceramic shapes using solid modelling techniques, and surface pattern designs using advanced computer graphics. The experience gained in this area was to be used in the early planning of the Hothouse Design Centre located in Longton.