WOLVERHAMPTON COLLEGE OF ART
As early as 1827 there existed a Mechanics’ Institute which was funded by local manufacturing industries
which provided vocational and general education for working men. The Wolverhampton Free Library also developed technical, scientific, commercial and general classes. Wolverhampton School of Art in Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton was the first small art school in Wolverhampton had operated on Castle Street from 1851 until money was raised by subscription for a new school in Darlington Street and the Government School of Practical Art opened in 1854. Thirty years later in 1884 it was replaced by a new Wolverhampton Municipal School of Art and Crafts, along with Wolverhampton Art Gallery, on Lichfield Street. The Gallery opened in 1884, and the art school was opened in June 1885. It offered a wide range of classes that included life drawing, sculpture, embroidery, and metalwork. As student numbers continued to grow, in 1912, the ‘Deanery House’ in Wulfruna Street was bought and in 1920 demolished to make way for the iconic Wulfruna building today. In 1933 the Wolverhampton and Staffordshire Technical College was born. The institution became the Wolverhampton College of Art in May 1950 and moved into a new building on Ring Road St Peter’s in 1969, the year the College merged with Wolverhampton College of Technology to form Wolverhampton Polytechnic. In 1992, Wolverhampton Polytechnic was granted university status and became the University of Wolverhampton.
Website: https://www.wlv.ac.uk