In 1829, the
Birmingham Society of Artists created a
private exhibition building in
New Street, Birmingham while the
historical precedent for public education around that time produced the
Factory Act 1833, the first instance of Government funding for education. The
Museums Act 1845 "empowered boroughs with a population of 10,000 or more to raise a 1/2d for the establishment of museums." In 1864, the first
public exhibition room, was opened when the Society and other donors presented 64 pictures as well as the
Sultanganj Buddha to
Birmingham Council and these were housed in the Free Library building but, due to lack of space, the pictures had to move to
Aston Hall.
Joseph Henry Nettlefold (1827–1881) bequeathed twenty-five pictures by
David Cox to Birmingham Art Gallery on the condition it opened on Sundays. In June 1880, local artist
Allen Edward Everitt accepted the post of honorary curator of the Free Art Gallery, a municipal institution which was the forerunner of the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.
Jesse Collings, Mayor of Birmingham 1878–79, was responsible for free libraries in Birmingham and was the original proponent of the Birmingham Art Gallery. A gift of £10,000 (equivalent to £ in 2020) made by
Sir Richard and George Tangye started a new drive for an art gallery and, in 1885, following other donations and £40,000 from the council, the
Prince of Wales officially opened the new gallery on Saturday 28 November 1885. The Museum and Art Gallery occupied an extended part of the
Council House above the new offices of the municipal Gas Department (which in effect subsidised the venture thus circumventing the
Public Libraries Act 1850 which limited the use of public funds on the arts). The building was designed by
Yeoville Thomason. The metalwork for the new building (and adjoining Council House) was by the Birmingham firm of
Hart, Son, Peard & Co. and extended to both the interior and exterior including the distinctive cast-iron columns in the main gallery space for the display of decorative art. The lofty portico, surmounted by a pediment by
Francis John Williamson, representing an allegory of Birmingham contributing to the fine arts, was together with the clock-tower considered the "most conspicuous features" of the exterior upon its opening. By 1900 the collection, especially its contemporary British holdings, was deemed by the
Magazine of Art to be "one of the finest and handsomest" in Britain. Until 1946, when
property taxes were voted towards acquisitions, the museum relied on the generosity of private individuals. John Woodward (1921–1988) was Keeper of Art from 1956 to 1964. In 1951, the
Museum of Science and Industry, Birmingham was incorporated into BM&AG. In 2001, the Science Museum closed with some exhibits being transferred to
Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum, which was operated by the independent Thinktank Trust that has since become part of Birmingham Museums Trust. 's
The Archangel Lucifer The main entrance is located in
Chamberlain Square below the clock-tower known locally as "
Big Brum". The entrance hall memorial reads 'By the gains of Industry we promote Art'. Open galleries including the Round Room, Industrial Gallery, history galleries and Bridge Gallery reopened on 24 October 2024, as did the tearoom and shop. An exhibition on
Ozzy Osbourne's life was put on display at the museum on 25 June 2025 (prior to his death), featuring memorabilia, photographs, and tributes to his career and legacy. Originally scheduled to close on 28 September 2025, the exhibition was extended to 18 January 2026 following public demand and tributes after his death. ==Art Gallery collection highlights==