Bournemouth & Poole College of Art

Bournemouth & Poole College of Art was formed in 1964 through the merger of Bournemouth Municipal College of Art and Poole College of Art and in 1980 it was re-branded as Bournemouth & Poole College of Art and Design. Eighteen years later it was renamed The Arts Institute at Bournemouth and again in 2009 it was given the new title of Arts University College at Bournemouth. Having stated all of that, it was and still is largely referred to simply Bournemouth College of Art.

The collection was formed largely as a stimulus to students who were generally unfamiliar with art specifically with art of their own times. A story of unproven authenticity states that oil tycoon Calouste Gulbenkian of the eponymous art foundation posed the following question at a dinner party. The question was, ‘If I gave it to you, what would you do with the Titian hanging on the dining room wall?’ Many answers were proffered but none outdid that of the College’s first Principal. He answered that an historical work of art was of no use to the college and that he would sell it and fill the college with works of younger artists. Gulbenkian’s funding helped launch the modern-day collection which now comprises works by such artistic luminaries as Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth, Ivon Hitchens, Prunella Clough, Stanley Hayter, Bridget Riley, Terry Frost and Sven Berlin who actually taught at the College during the 1970’s.