Wolverhampton Municipal School of Art and Crafts

Foundation date: 21 June 1885
Dissolution date: April 1950

Function: Art school

Policy: The construction of a new building that housed the art school and gallery was funded by private subscription and a goverment grant of £1,000. The Gallery opened in 1884, and the art school was opened on the 21 June, 1885. Jones cites a committee report from c. 1896 which records that designs for wrought-iron gates, executed by one of the students (A. H. Smith), were selected for reproduction in the 'Studio'.
A 'Report of the General Purposes Committee', 2 February, 1885, includes a letter from Mr. Mander (Honorary Secretary of the School) which discusses the composition of the School's Committee: writting to the Town Clerk, Mander states that 'my Committee desire me to communicate to you their views as to the constitution of the new committee into whose hands they will resign their trust. They desire that it shall consist of the committee appointed from time to time to manage the Art Gallery, with power, subject to the approval of the Council, to add to their number as they may think fot, but equally from the Town Council and from outside that body up to the limit of Corporation Committees.'

Modelling classes were offered to students of the school from its foundation. The 'On Art Committee Report' (1887) notes that there were 29 modelling students in 1885-6, 24 in 1886-7 and 20 in 1887-1888. In 1885-6 15 students sat examinations for modelling, however, no students sat modelling examinations from 1886-1888.

Brendan Flynn notes that as second master E. J. Emerson provided teaching in drawing and sculpture from 1910. He adds that students 'spent their first year drawing from casts in the Antique Room, then attended life classes for another year before entry into the sculpture course for 2-3 years duration'. See Flynn in 'R. J. Emerson' (1984), p. 4.

The School's 1912-1913 'Syllabus' states that 'the objects of the School are to effect a complete union between Arts and Crafts and give a sound practical training in Drawing, Painting, Modelling, Designing and the Crafts, with a view to the requirements of 'Manufacturers, Designers and Craftsmen, and to instruct those who wish to pursue Art as part of their general education, and also to give facilities for the training of persons who wish to adopt Art as a profession, or to include it in their qualification as Teachers in Pupil or other Schools. The Handicraft side has been developed to supplement apprenticeship by affording to Students engaged in local Art industries fuller opportunities for practice in various branches of their craft than can usually be obtained in the ordinary routine of a workshop.'
Elementary subjects included modelling in clay, cardboard modelling and wood carving. Advanced subjects included modelling from the cast and from objects of natural history from nature, modelled design, modelling from the antique and from drapery, modelling the human figure in the round and in relief, modelling the head from life, modelling hands and feet from nature, modelling from memory, modelling figure compositions for sculpture and lectures upon history and methods of sculpture. Architecture also formed part of the advanced course. Advanced craft subjects that were offered included repousse metal work, iron work, enamelling, jewellery, ornamental leadwork, wood carving, stone carving, ornamental woodwork, pottery, etc. (see 'Syllabus', pp. 11-12).
The school offered day and evening classes. Some courses were only offered as evening classes including 'Modelling for Teachers of Elementary and Secondary Schools'. Modelling classes were delivered daily in the morning and/or afternoon. An 'Advanced Modelling' class is listed on Tuesday evenings only. Craftmanship Classes (including the afformentioned advanced craft subjects) were primarily offered as evening classes. Many of the 'Art Craftmanship' evening classes ran for three years (see 'Syllabus' pp. 15-19).
The modelling course is described as being held in 'a spacious modelling room'. The course of study is listed as including modellinng the figure from life, modelling details, hand and wrist, feet, etc., modelling ornament and drapery, figure composition, modelling design, history and methods of sculpture.
The time table of day classes lists modelling from life classes for men only and women only on Tuesdays; other modelling from life classes are listed in the day and evening and these are not indicated as being exclusively for one sex (see 'Syllabus', pp. 19-20).
The school offered varioud prizes non of which were specifically awarded to, or targeted at, sculpture/modelling students. Sculpture students were eligable for various general prizes including, for example, the 'British Institution Scholarships' (awarded to candidates over the age of 25) in painting and sculpture (see 'Syllabus', p. 64).

Employees, Students & Members

Numbers: 383
Period Start: 1896
Period End: 1896

Citing this record

'Wolverhampton Municipal School of Art and Crafts', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/organization.php?id=msib4_1233061034, accessed 24 May 2013]