Wolverhampton College of Art

Foundation date: May 1950

Active: 1950 -

Function: Art school

Policy: F. Lonsdale Mills notes in his Foreword to the 'College of Art Prospectus', 1959-1951, that the Wolverhampton School of Art became the Wolverhampton College of Art in May 1950. He describes the aims of the College as follows: 'It is the policy of the College to maintain and develop the closest possible relations with Industry, and Employers are invited to collaborate with the Principal in arranging new courses of training that may be necessary for their employees. It is appreciated however, that a College of Art cannot play its part in raising the standard of design in local industries, and the general level of taste in the community unless it maintains a high level of taste in the commnity unless it maintains a high level of achievement in the Fine Arts. The College provides excellent facilities for young people who wish to study as painters, sculptor and craftsmen and there are facilities too, for those who desire, as part of a liberal education, to widen their knowledge and appreciation of the Fine Arts.' See p. 3.
The 1950-1951 prospects contains photographs of students working in the Pottery and Sculpture Departments; see pp. 10-11. This prospectus also includes a list of 'the artistic professions and trades for which students may be trained' at the College (p. 11): the professions include 'The Fines Arts' (including architecture and sculpture), 'The Teaching Profession' and 'Commercial Art and Artistic Crafts and Trades' (including pottery, furniture design and cabinet making and stone and wood carving).
Students who had not previously recieved training in art were required to complete the First Year Course. Modelling was one of the core subjects. Students had to study 'craftwork' during this year. Students were then presumably enrolled into a department to take a specialised course.
The Department of Sculpture and Pottery offered 'either elementary instruction or more advanced assistance, which will enable them to take the National Diploma in Design, and sit for entry to the Royal College of Art'. Classes were offered in portrait modelling, figure modelling, design for modelling, stonecarving, casting, etc. Special classes for 'Stonemasons' apprentices provide training in Letterctting and Stonecarving' (see p. 26).
The Cabinet Making Department also offered classes in woodcarving.
Modelling and Carving evening classes were offered to boys and girls (jointly); these classes are described in the prospectus as being for 'boys and girls who are in their last year at school, or who have just left, who wish to take Art&Craft Work either for pleasure or because they feel that work of this kind will be helpful to them in their employment' (see p. 32).

Rules: Day students had to be over the age of 15 to attend the school. Senior school pupils could attend evening classes from the age of 14 (with written permission of their headmaster or headmistress) or 15 (without written consent). Students under the age of 18 did not pay tuition fees. A number of scholarships were also avaliable to students: see 'Prospectus' (1950-1951), pp. 12-20.

Citing this record

'Wolverhampton College 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_1242329872, accessed 30 Mar 2023]