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{{Short description|Former art school in Burslem, England}}
'''Burslem School of Art''' refers to a former art school in [[Burslem]] in the [[Potteries]] district of [[England]] or to the early twentieth-century building where the art school was housed. Students from the school played an important role in the local pottery industry.
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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]].<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/archive/burslem.html ''Timeteam Dig in Burslem, 1999'']</ref>
'''Burslem School of Art''' was an art school in the centre of the town of [[Burslem]] in the [[Staffordshire Potteries|Potteries]] district of [[England]]. Students from the school played an important role in the local pottery industry. Pottery was made on the site of the school from the early [[Middle Ages]].<ref>[http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/T/timeteam/archive/burslem.html ''Timeteam Dig in Burslem, 1999'']</ref> The venue was refurbished and re-opened for the arts in 1999.
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[[Image:Burslem school of art.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Burslem School of Art, Queen Street, [[Burslem]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]], May 2008]]

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[[Image:Burslem school of art.JPG|thumb|right|200px|The Burslem School of Art (1905), Queen Street, [[Burslem]], [[Stoke-on-Trent]]. Photographed May 2008]]


==History==
==History==
The art school originated in 1853. In the nineteenth century each of the towns making up the (future) city of [[Stoke-on-Trent]] 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 a new site, where it was provided with a new building with large windows (designed by Wood, a local architect), and this purpose-built accommodation helped it become pre-eminent in the district.
The art school originated in 1853. In the nineteenth century each of the towns making up the (future) city of [[Stoke-on-Trent]] founded its own art school, the [[Burslem]] school moving into the [[Wedgwood Institute]] when it was completed in the 1860s. In 1906 the foundation stone was laid of a purpose-built art school, and the institution moved across Queen Street to this accommodation designed by A.R. Wood, a local architect.<ref name="thep"/> The new building with its distinctive large windows helped Burlem School of Art become pre-eminent in the district. Its heyday was recalled in ''Pottery Ladies'', a series of TV documentaries made in 1985.<ref name="PL">[http://artsonfilm.wmin.ac.uk/films.php?a=view&recid=154 Pottery Ladies. Miss Cooper, Miss Cliff, Miss Rhead and all the forgotten girls...] Synopsis of film about Susie Cooper. The Arts Council Film Collection (''Pottery Ladies'' was made for [[Channel 4]] with the support of the [[Arts Council of Great Britain]])</ref>


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.
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 Polytechnic's department of Fine Art was subsequently moved from Burslem to College Road, Stoke, thus leaving the historic Burslem building somewhat underused. The School of Art was [[Grade II listed building|listed Grade II]] in 1993,
<ref>[http://www.thepotteries.org/listed/21a.html ''Listed buildings in SOT'']</ref>
<ref name="thep">[http://www.thepotteries.org/listed/21a.html ''Listed buildings in SOT'']. thepotteries.org</ref> but despite this protection it was left empty and boarded up for a time.

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.<ref>[http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries/burslem-library/ ''Burslem Library'']</ref>
==Refurbishment and re-opening==
In 1999 the Edwardian building was subject to a £1.2-million refurbishment, and re-opened as an arts centre. It currently runs without a public subsidy, employing three people. It contains three galleries that have shown over 200 exhibitions, as well as containing offices for cultural organisations, and workshop and studio space. In 2008 Burslem public library moved into the building.<ref>[http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries/burslem-library/ ''Burslem Library''] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110117033408/http://www.stoke.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/leisure/libraries/burslem-library/ |date=2011-01-17 }}</ref> although at 2015 the School only houses its own substantial book lending collection, housed in its public computer room. A local photography collective now curates the large upper gallery. Regular art ceramics training courses returned to the building in 2012 and continue to run.


==People associated with the school==
==People associated with the school==

===Staff===
===Staff===
Gordon Forsyth, 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.<ref>[http://www.webmozaic.com/grays/designer-forsyth.htm</ref><ref>[http://www.search.exploringthepotteries.org.uk/engine/theme/default.asp?theme=597&text=0 ''The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery has items by Forsyth'']</ref>
[[Gordon Forsyth]], 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.<ref>[http://www.webmozaic.com/grays/designer-forsyth.htm ''Designers - Gordon Forsyth 1879–1952, Gray's Pottery'']</ref><ref>[http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/collections/browse_collections/ceramics/20th_ceramics/gordon_forsyth?tab=info ''Gordon Forsyth, SOT Museums''] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727191644/http://www.stokemuseums.org.uk/collections/browse_collections/ceramics/20th_ceramics/gordon_forsyth?tab=info |date=July 27, 2011 }}</ref> [[Reginald George Haggar]], who was [[Mintons Ltd|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 (playwright)|Arthur Berry]] who featured in at least two television programmes in the [[Monitor (UK TV series)|Monitor series]] with Huw Weldon.
Reginald Haggar, who was [[Mintons Ltd|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]].


===Notable alumni===
===Notable alumni===
*[[Arthur Berry]] artist and playwright, Berry also taught at his alma mater
* [[Arthur Berry (playwright)|Arthur Berry]] artist and playwright, Berry also taught at his alma mater
* [[Doris Boulton-Maude]], painter and printmaker
*[[William Bowyer (artist)]]
* [[William Bowyer (artist)]]
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*[[Clarice Cliff]] ceramic designer
*[[Susie Cooper]] ceramic designer
* [[Clarice Cliff]], ceramic designer
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* [[Susie Cooper]], ceramic designer<ref name="PL"/>
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*[[Charles Tomlinson]] poet and artist
* [[Richard Arthur Ledward]], sculptor
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*[[Sidney Tushingham]] etcher
* [[Muriel Pemberton]], who "invented art-school training in fashion in Britain"
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*[[Jessie Tait]] ceramic designer
* [[Frances Richards (British artist)|Frances Richards]], painter, embroiderer and illustrator
* [[John Shelton (artist)|John Shelton]], painter and ceramic artist
* [[Jessie van Hallen]], ceramic designer
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* [[Jessie Tait]], ceramic designer
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* [[Charles Tomlinson]], poet and artist
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* [[Sidney Tushingham]], etcher


==Notes==
==Notes==
Line 28: Line 38:


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.schoolofart.co.uk Burslem School of Art Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060220112623/http://schoolofart.co.uk/ Burslem School of Art Website]

{{Stoke-on-Trent}}
{{Stoke-on-Trent}}
{{Authority control}}
{{coord|53.0448|-2.1972|type:edu_region:GB-STS|display=title}}
{{Coord|53.0448|-2.1972|type:edu_region:GB-STS|display=title}}


[[Category:Art schools in England]]
[[Category:Art schools in England]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Stoke-on-Trent]]
[[Category:Defunct schools in Stoke-on-Trent]]
[[Category:Education in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Education in Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Education in Stoke-on-Trent]]
[[Category:Education in Stoke-on-Trent]]

Latest revision as of 22:30, 3 September 2023

Burslem School of Art was an art school in the centre of the town of Burslem in the Potteries district of England. Students from the school played an important role in the local pottery industry. Pottery was made on the site of the school from the early Middle Ages.[1] The venue was refurbished and re-opened for the arts in 1999.

The Burslem School of Art (1905), Queen Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent. Photographed May 2008

History

[edit]

The art school originated in 1853. In the nineteenth century each of the towns making up the (future) city of Stoke-on-Trent founded its own art school, the Burslem school moving into the Wedgwood Institute when it was completed in the 1860s. In 1906 the foundation stone was laid of a purpose-built art school, and the institution moved across Queen Street to this accommodation designed by A.R. Wood, a local architect.[2] The new building with its distinctive large windows helped Burlem School of Art become pre-eminent in the district. Its heyday was recalled in Pottery Ladies, a series of TV documentaries made in 1985.[3]

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 Polytechnic's department of Fine Art was subsequently moved from Burslem to College Road, Stoke, thus leaving the historic Burslem building somewhat underused. The School of Art was listed Grade II in 1993, [2] but despite this protection it was left empty and boarded up for a time.

Refurbishment and re-opening

[edit]

In 1999 the Edwardian building was subject to a £1.2-million refurbishment, and re-opened as an arts centre. It currently runs without a public subsidy, employing three people. It contains three galleries that have shown over 200 exhibitions, as well as containing offices for cultural organisations, and workshop and studio space. In 2008 Burslem public library moved into the building.[4] although at 2015 the School only houses its own substantial book lending collection, housed in its public computer room. A local photography collective now curates the large upper gallery. Regular art ceramics training courses returned to the building in 2012 and continue to run.

People associated with the school

[edit]

Staff

[edit]

Gordon Forsyth, 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.[5][6] 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.

Notable alumni

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Timeteam Dig in Burslem, 1999
  2. ^ a b Listed buildings in SOT. thepotteries.org
  3. ^ a b Pottery Ladies. Miss Cooper, Miss Cliff, Miss Rhead and all the forgotten girls... Synopsis of film about Susie Cooper. The Arts Council Film Collection (Pottery Ladies was made for Channel 4 with the support of the Arts Council of Great Britain)
  4. ^ Burslem Library Archived 2011-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Designers - Gordon Forsyth 1879–1952, Gray's Pottery
  6. ^ Gordon Forsyth, SOT Museums Archived July 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
[edit]

53°02′41″N 2°11′50″W / 53.0448°N 2.1972°W / 53.0448; -2.1972

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