Abstract :
Birmingham’s Art School, through its Central and Branch schools and teaching in
elementary schools, offered all art education in the city from the most advanced to
the most basic. Its influence was considerable in terms of content, method,
selection, progression and opportunity. During the forty year period of increased
autonomy and influence, the opportunities available to working and middle class
female students is examined in terms of success, difference and opportunity. The
factors that contextualised the opportunities – social, cultural, and industrial enable
an analysis of the role of female students and staff and interpretations of the
evidence.
