Wigan School of Art

This art school has a history rooted in the industrial heritage of the Lancashire town of Wigan. It evolved from the Wigan Mining and Technical College, established in 1857, aiming to provide technical and vocational education. The school offered art courses, including Commercial and Graphic Design. By 1875, the college had grown to hold 130 students. However, it was still peripatetic, with no fixed location and was based in other local venues such as the Town Hall, the Conservative Club and Wigan Grammar School, until 1882 when its first college building was erected. In 1903, after raising £50,000, the college moved to an elaborate campus building, which was used for much of the 20th century and is now used as Wigan Town Hall. The current institution, known as Wigan & Leigh College, was formed in April 1992 through the merger of Wigan College of Technology and Leigh College.