Wolverhampton School of Art granted Grade II-listed status

Historic England regional director Deborah Williams, said: ‘Wolverhampton School of Art is a bold building that holds a prominent place in the centre of the city, and in the hearts of many locals.

“The striking Brutalist design, combined with the important social history of the British black art movement mean the building meets the high bar for post-war listing and I’m pleased DCMS agreed with our recommendation to recognise the significance of this distinctive piece of twentieth-century history.”

Wolverhampton School of Art hosted the first National Black Art Convention in 1982, which is recognised as a key moment in the formation of the British Black art movement.

It was organised by the Blk Art Group, formed in the West Midlands, who sought to empower and raise the profile of black artists during a period in which racial tensions were high.

Brutalism is a style of architecture referring to the vast, grey structures associated with Britain’s post-war period