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RBSA Gallery - A Birmingham Gem!

The RBSA Gallery is situated at 4 Brook Street in the Jewellery Quarter. The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists was established in 1821 was at New Street but relocated in 2000.

Where is the RBSA Gallery?

4 Brook Street, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham, B3 1SA

In brief

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists was founded in 1821, and was based at New Street from 1829 until they relocated to Brook Street in the Jewellery Quarter in the year 2000.

RBSA Gallery at Brook Street and James Street, Jewellery Quarter (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

RBSA Gallery - history

The Birmingham Society of Artists was established in 1821.

It has origins dating back to 1809 as a life drawing academy opened by Samuel Lines, Moses Haughton, Vincent Barber and Charles Barber in Peck Lane (now the site of Birmingham New Street Station).

This group went on to found the Birmingham Academy of Arts in 1814, who held their first exhibition that year.

A gallery and set of offices was built for the Birmingham Society of Artists in 1829 by the architect Thomas Rickman in the neo-classical style on New Street.

In 1868 the RBSA received it's Royal Charter and adopted it's current name.

Later in the Victorian period, the RBSA was to become influential with the Pre-Raphaelite and Arts and Crafts movements.

During this period the gallery became associated with Edward Burne-Jones, William Morris, John Everett Millais and Lord Leighton.

In the early 20th century, financial pressure led to the original building being demolished and rebuilt as part of a commerical redevelopment.

There is two bronze plaques made in 1919 by William Bloye, that are now on their current home at Brook Street. They place the founding of the gallery back to 1814.

RBSA Gallery

William Bloye bronze plaques at RBSA Gallery - Brook Street and James Street, Jewellery Quarter (December 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

In the year 2000, the RBSA left the New Street site completely, relocating to a corner site at Brook Street and James Street in the Jewellery Quarter.

This was a converted warehouse not far from St Paul's Square.

The RBSA Gallery was opened by Charles, Prince of Wales on the 12th April 2000.

RBSA Gallery