The University of Stirling Art Collection - Art at Stirling: The Story

Art at Stirling: The Story

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Art at Stirling: The story

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For further information contact:
Art Collection Office
Tel: 01786 466050

The Art Collection at the University is a varied one comprising of over 300 works including paintings, sketches, tapestries, sculpture and silver. Artist search A-Z

The tradition of collecting art goes back to the founding of the University in 1967 when Professor Tom Cottrell was the first Principal. A scientist by training, he came from an artistic background and had very clear ideas about art and its place in society. He felt that art should be part of the everyday experience at the University and it is his philosophy that has been driving and inspiring us to keep on collecting and showing exciting art to the public ever since.

Tom Cottrell
Alberto Morrocco

After the death of Tom Cottrell in 1973 the University commissioned a memorial tapestry Landscape with the Elements from the artist John Craxton. This was woven at the Dovecot Studios in Edinburgh and hangs in the small foyer at the MacRobert Theatre.

Landscape with the Elements
Landscape with the Elements
A memorial to Tom Leadbetter Cottrell
First Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University.

Universities exist to provide specific instruction in certain spheres. They also exist to give focus to the culture that supports them... including the insights of specially gifted individuals. Some of these are uniquely expressible in terms of the visual arts.

If a University hopes to reflect, however fitfully, these important insights, it must ensure that these are evident not only to its students but also to those of the rest of us to whom the University means more than classes and a degree.

Tom Cottrell 1967

It was this philosophy that prompted the early decision to budget for works of art to enhance the developing campus; indeed 1% of the cost of each new building was earmarked for art to decorate it in the first phase of University building.

In these early days site specific works were commissioned and an excellent example of this is the wall mounted steel sculptural panel by Mary Martin which still hangs in the Pathfoot Refectory.

Mural
Mary Martin

Much of our collection was purchased in the late Sixties and the Seventies and we have a fine collection of works from that period with several examples of the work of Patrick Heron, Terry Frost, Graham Sutherland

In The Beginning
Peter Wilson

The University has received two large and valuable gifts during the Collection's history.

The Red Shawl
J.D. Fergusson

The first being a gift of fourteen works by the Scottish Colourist painter J.D. Fergusson that was presented to Stirling by the artist's widow Margaret Morris; the second being a gift of fifteen paintings and three sculptures given to the University in 1997 as part of the Scottish Arts Council Bequest

Stay Blue
Olivia Irvine

One of our special areas of collecting interest is in the field of outdoor sited sculpture. The ultimate aim is to provide a 'sculpture trail' through the beautiful campus for our many visitors as a follow up to viewing the Pathfoot Gallery.

Two Stainless Steel Uprights with White
Justin Knowles

Though there is a dispersed element to the Collection, a proportion of the works being displayed in Halls of Residence, the University Library, the Courtroom Building and other easily accessible areas, most of the works are concentrated in the Pathfoot Building with its light airy courtyards and multi level Concourse Gallery.

The Art Collection is fully registered with the Museums and Galleries Commission and has received help from the Scottish Museums Council and the National Fund for Acquisitions for various projects.

In these times where making economies is paramount we still endeavour at Stirling to make sure that we use our resources wisely to ensure that art is still a part of everyones lives whether they are here for years or simply visting us for a day.