Burslem School of Art

Other names: Stoke-on-Trent College of Art (1952)
Foundation date: 1869

Active: 1869 -

Function: Art school

Policy: An undated document entitled 'Burslem Art School' describes how the Burlsem Art School was founded as part of the Wedgwood Memorial Institute in 1869.
It became a separate school with its own premises in February 1906. The building was situated opposite the Wedgwood Institute.

The separate local schools in Stoke on Trent were run by a central management committee with a Superintendent of Art [see Haggar (1953), pp. 34-35]. The local schools continued to provide classes specialising in different areas of Art education.

In 1919 Burslem is listed as holding classes in modelling, with classes in modelling from from the 'nude living model'. Pottery classes were held and listed under the School's department for 'Design for Manufacturer'. Classes in woodcarving, jewellery are listed under the department for 'Arts Handicrafts' ['Report of Inspection of Stoke-on-Trent Schools of Art' (1919), pp. 12-17].

The 1925 'Report of Inspection of Stoke-on-Trent Schools of Art' describes the relationship between the schools and the local industry: 'The principal aim of the various Schools is to provide courses of instruction suited to the needs of those engaged in the pottery industry'. Two local firms [not named] paid the fees of eight students who attended Burslem [summary, p. 2]. The report describes the conditions for studying at Burslem: 'The accommodation at Burslem is excellent, and the tone of the whole place cheerful and in marked contrast to the depressing surroundings of the students in the Stoke Modelling School' [p. 11].

In the 'Schools of Art Prospectus' (1938-39) Burslem is listed as specialising in 'Architecture, Drawing, Painting and Design'; modelling classes were still held at the school at this time [p. 7]. Junior School art classes were held at Burslem and these included modelling [p. 13]. Classes in the senior school included modelling, pottery throwing and decoration, metal work [p. 15]. Students are listed as being trained as either '1. Draughtsmen, Painters in Landscape, Animal and Figure; 2. Architects; 3. Modellers and Sculptors; 4. Designers, Decorative Artists and Workers in Art Crafts; 5. Teachers of Drawing in Elementary and Secondary Schools.' [p. 19]. Students took the same first, second (including classes in casting) and third year (including classes in crafts) courses and then specialised in either painting, modelling, design, craft or architecture in the fourth year [p. 20]. Modelling students were examined in 'life study in the round, sheet of sketches from life, modelled panel in relief, design of group of figures, birds or animals, anatomised study from life, figure in detail' [p. 21]. The 'Burslem Exhibition Endowment' provided funds for students to exhibit their works [p. 37].

A report on the 'Suggested Re-Organisation - Burslem, Hanley & Stoke Schools of Art' (1945) recorded that pottery (described as 'throwing, turning, modelling, mould-making and pottery painting') is taught at Burslem and Stoke but that each school had only partial facilities (e.g. pottery from Stoke had to be fired at Burslem as there was no kiln at Stoke) and that thus these courses should be amalgamated [summary, p. 1]. The pottery school at stoke was to be moved to Burslem and housed in the old Junior Department [p. 2].

It was resolved in a 'Memo. Re-organisation Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools' (30 June 1945) that 'Pottery, including all processes of manufacture, will be concentrated in the basement, first floor, and it in proposed new huts; here will be arrangements for stone carving, woodcarving, modelling life and casting, glost and biscuit kiln, glazing and placing, biscuit and placing' [summary, p. 1].

It was agreed in a report on 'Notes on recent proposals for re-organisation for the Stoke-on-Trent Art Schools' (1949) that Burslem would become a 'school for pottery, modelling, mould making, sculpture, carving, etc., dress making and design.'

Burslem and the local schools of art were finally centralised and amalgamated under the title of the City of Stoke-on-Trent College of Art in 1952 [see Warrillow (1960), p. 289].

Activities: art classes, classes in life drawing , classes in modeling, classes in modeling from the life, classes in painting, classes in painting from the life, classes in woodcarving, exhibitions (members only), lectures on art

Publications: annual reports, reports

Employees, Students & Members

Numbers: 369

Numbers: 169
Period Start: 1917
Period End: 1918

Numbers: 285
Period Start: 1924
Period End: 1925

Citing this record

'Burslem School of Art', 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_1221476770, accessed 30 Mar 2023]