Exhibition Programme 2006 - 2007
The Archives regularly displays selections from our art and archival collections as a series of temporary exhibitions in the Margaret Street building.
Learning to Draw in the Nineteenth Century - The National Course of Instruction
9 – 20 October 2006
The National Course of Instruction was the first government curriculum for art in Britain. It was introduced by Henry Cole in 1852 and formed the basis of all work in Schools of Art until 1889. It retained a strong influence over art schools in Britain until the early twentieth century. Using examples from the BIAD School of Art Archive, this exhibition illustrates the approach to drawing that was taught through The National Course of Instruction.
Margaret J. Cowern (nee Trotman)
Birmingham School of Art Student 1929-1936
4 – 15 December 2006
To coincide with the exhibition of Raymond Cowern’s work presently on display at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, this exhibition shows works completed by Margaret J Cowern (nee Trotman), who met and later married Raymond whilst studying at Birmingham School of Art.
Branching Out Project - Exhibition
22 – 26 January 2007
This exhibition concludes a six-month project between the Archives and the Osborne Adult Education Centre, funded by MLA West Midlands. It includes a historical display relating to the Osborne Centre and Birmingham School of Art, as well as examples of works by past and present students of this centre.
Leonard Jay and the Birmingham School of Printing
5 –16 March 2007
This exhibition explores the work of the Birmingham School of Printing under the instruction of the printer Leonard Jay in the period 1925 – 1953. Incorporating a selection of the 192 books produced during Jay’s time as Head of the School, it explores the use of a wide selection of processes Jay used in his teaching. The work produced an end result that was of pioneering importance to both printing and the arts and crafts movement.
Birmingham School of Art: captured on film
14 –18 May 2007
Originally founded in 1843 as the Birmingham Government School of Design, the Birmingham School of Art moved into the Margaret Street building in 1885. Since then, the building has been home to a number of different courses and activities. This exhibition highlights some of the photographs contained within the BIAD School of Art Archive. The photographs date from the early 1900’s through to the 1960’s. The photographs reveal the history of the school, its students and their lives and the works of art produced by them and their teachers.