Bradford College of Art

The roots of the College are to be found in Bradford Mechanics Institute. The first Institute was founded by radicals as early as 1825 and quickly collapsed due to the unpopularity of their views amongst the middle classes. In order to advance the working classes, non-conformists and businessmen successfully revived the Institute in the 1830's. Led by the 26-year-old Baptist Joseph Farrar, along with James Acworth and Dr Steadman, Quakers, John Hustler and Henry Harris and Congregationalists, Titus Salt and Robert Milligan, it opened its first premises in March 1832. Teachers were voluntary and funds depended on fees raised from lectures, exhibitions, excursions and concerts.

Successful, though struggling from the start, by 1863 it had its own School of Industrial Design and Art. By 1882 some 250 students were enrolled at the outset and a new building was now required which was completed and opened by the then Prince of Wales, later Edward VII in 1883. However, by the end of the decade, The Technical School was renamed Bradford Technical College but it was struggling both for space and finance. World War I reduced its finances, pupils and sadly its staff even further. Today having undergone numerous name changes it is an independent body offering a range of learning facilities from fine art through to hairdressing and in 2015 a new state of the art Advanced Technology Centre was opened on a former car park site in the city. Its former alumni and teaching staff include Frank Newbould, Edward Wadsworth, Alvaro Guevara, Edna Ginesi, David Hockney, Richard Eurich, Norman Stevens, Andy Goldsworthy and many more.