The Ashington Group was a small society of artists from Ashington , Northumberland , composed largely of mine workers. They met regularly between 1934 and 1983 to encourage their progress. Although most of the men had no formal artistic training, the Group and its work became celebrated in the British art world of the 1930s and 1940s.
31-521: The Group began as the Ashington branch of the Workers' Educational Association (WEA), which first advertised a class on 'Evolution' in 1927. After taking additional evening classes in varied subjects, the group decided to study art appreciation. The WEA and Durham University arranged for a tutor, painter and teacher Robert Lyon (1894-1978), to instruct the group, but its members, mainly men employed by
62-558: A PhD based on a study of the legacy of the Ashington Group, at Newcastle University . Price curated a new exhibition in 2018 of their work loaned from private collections, entitled Pitmen Painters Unseen . Workers%27 Educational Association Workers' Educational Associations ( WEA ) are not-for-profit bodies that deliver further education to adults in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. WEA UK, founded in 1903,
93-693: A conference in London where a formal constitution was adopted. Worker representatives from the United Kingdom, Denmark, Finland, France, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Switzerland and Sweden attended, while observers from Germany, Poland, Austria, Czechoslovakia and the United States of America were present. A President and Secretary General were elected, and an Executive Committee was appointed with regional representation. Representation
124-629: A dingy rented room down a back alley; now it is homed in the central city villa it purchased in 1957, where it teaches over 130 courses a year. From the 1920s, it took adult education to nearly every nook and cranny of the Canterbury and Westland provinces through a travelling library book scheme. Early work was patterned on the WEAs in the UK. As in the UK, the WEAs in Australia became general adult education agencies. Reorganization in 1994 saw
155-474: A global basis. Programmes have also included film clubs, dance clubs and theatre groups for social change. The annual Youth Global Awareness Programme (YGAP) run by IFWEA brings together young educators, trade union and youth leaders from around the globe. The programme, run in Cape Town, South Africa, raises awareness around global worker education issues. It is designed to mentor and develop young leaders in
186-467: A meeting held at the Free Gardeners' Hall, 12-14 Picardy Place, Edinburgh. The meeting was chaired by Professor Lodge and addressed by Albert Mansbridge and Dr. Bernard Bosanquet. The meeting was attended by 200 people, including James Munro who became Secretary of the newly formed branch. WEA branches for North and South Wales were established early in the 20th century. An instrumental figure
217-581: Is an international organisation of associations, foundations, non-governmental organisations and trade unions involved in adult education for working people. It is based in Cape Town, South Africa , is an observer at the International Labour Organisation and UNESCO and is a member of SOLIDAR . The idea to form an international federation of educational associations for workers was conceived during World War II , at
248-557: Is currently operated under the Canadian government licences and jurisdictions of division branch companies ltd.' (LLC) Lawrence Goldman , past President of the former Thames and Solent District WEA, has written: Joe England (ed.), 2007. Changing Lives: Workers' Education in Wales 1907–2007 . International Federation of Workers%27 Education Associations The International Federation of Workers' Education Associations ( IFWEA )
279-464: Is divided into nine regions in England, a Scottish Association and over 500 local branches. It creates and delivers about 9,000 courses each year in response to local need across England and Scotland, often in partnership with community groups and local charities. These courses provide learning opportunities for around 65,000 people per year, taught by over 2,000 professional tutors (most of whom work for
310-415: Is now regularly modified to reflect the federation's membership. Over the past 70-odd years membership of IFWEA has increased. As of 2023, IFWEA has affiliates in more than 30 countries including South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nepal, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Philippines, India, Cambodia, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, Iceland, Finland, the United Kingdom, Bulgaria, Belgium, Bolivia, Peru and
341-413: Is the UK's largest voluntary sector provider of adult education and one of Britain's biggest charities. The WEA is a democratic and voluntary adult education movement. It delivers learning throughout England and Scotland. There was a related but independent WEA Cymru covering Wales, though it is now known as Adult Learning Wales since a merger in 2015 with YMCA Wales Community College. The WEA's provision
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#1732790229999372-541: Is usually local to its students. In 2015–16 there were over 8,000 courses delivered in over 1,800 community venues and 75% of WEA students travelled less than 2 miles to their class. The WEA has throughout its history supported the development of similar educational initiatives and associations internationally. It is affiliated to the International Federation of Workers' Education Associations (IFWEA), which has consultative status to UNESCO . The WEA
403-954: The University of Melbourne invited Mansbridge to visit Australia to help set up branches there. The Mansbrige family arrived on 8 July on a 17-week mission aimed at forming branches of the association in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, West Australia and Tasmania and WEAs were initially set up in all states. During this trip the Mansbridges then made a brief visit to New Zealand where WEA branches were established in 1915. Seven branches are still operating. Branches in Waitakere , Kāpiti Coast , Wellington , Canterbury , Te Anau , Gore and Southland provides flexible learning to over 12,000 students each year. The Canterbury branch initially held its classes in
434-563: The Woodhorn and Ellington Collieries, quickly grew dissatisfied with the course. Lyon suggested that the group members try creating their own paintings as a means to develop an understanding and appreciation of art. By 1936 the group - many of whose members were committed to the principles of the Independent Labour Party - had drawn up an extensive list of regulations, by which all members had to abide, and named itself
465-586: The Ashington Group. They held their first exhibition at the Hatton Gallery, part of Armstrong College, Newcastle-upon-Tyne . A further exhibition was held in 1938 as an extension of the Mass Observation project. By the early 1940s the Group had exhibited in London, and they continued to thrive after Lyon left to become the fourth Principal of Edinburgh College of Art . Lyon kept in contact with
496-529: The Group's members, and wrote his MA thesis on his educational project with the Group. Over the next few years the work of the Group was noticed and praised by a number of prominent British artists and critics, such as Julian Trevelyan and Henry Moore . Their work was collected by prominent figures such as Helen Sutherland . After World War II , critical interest in the Group waned, but the men continued to meet weekly, producing new art and taking on new members. The critic William Feaver met Oliver Kilbourn in
527-679: The Higher Education of Working Men in 1903 (renamed 'Workers Educational Association' in 1905), funded by two shillings and sixpence from the housekeeping money. Archbishop of Canterbury William Temple was a strong proponent of workers' education. The first Scottish branch of the WEA was in Springburn, Glasgow, although this only lasted until 1909 at that time, the Edinburgh and Leith Branch coming into existence on 25 October 1912 after
558-845: The Secretariat in Oslo. Archival records of IFWEA 1945 to 1986 are held at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Library Collections and University Archives at London Metropolitan University, reference code GB 1924 IFWEA. Current records are held at the Institute of The Hague. The Foundation Skills for Social Change Certificate Programme (FSSC) provides courses aimed at grassroots leaders in community organisations and trade unions. Past programmes have included courses on youth civic and political mobilisation ; participatory learning and research methods; women’s leadership; and organising for
589-422: The United States of America. IFWEA helps new organisations, particularly in developing countries , and provides a global space for worker educators to share resources and advance the role of trade unions and community struggles in the transformation of society. An important role is to facilitate information exchanges between members. The purpose of IFWEA is to “advance the education of the public with respect to
620-712: The WEA in New South Wales split into WEA Sydney , WEA Hunter in Newcastle (now Atwea College ) and WEA Illawarra in Wollongong. WEA Sydney has many clubs and societies associated with their operation. A typical example is the WEA Film Study Group based in New South Wales . As of 2012, WEA South Australia claims to be 'Australia's largest non-government adult community education organisation'. After being in recess for many years, WEA Victoria
651-806: The WEA part-time). The WEA is supported by the Government through funding from the Skills Funding Agency in England, and in Scotland by the Scottish Executive and Local Authorities. It also receives fees from learners on many of its courses and is often successful in funding bids from government, lottery and other sources for educational projects in local communities around the country. Albert Mansbridge (10 January 1876 – 22 August 1952) and his wife Frances (née Frances Jane Pringle, 1876–1958) established An Association to promote
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#1732790229999682-575: The annual conference of the United Kingdom Workers' Educational Association. In 1945 a conference for members of workers' educational organisations from a number of countries was held in London, where it was resolved to create an international coalition to support collaboration between organisations. In October 1947 the International Federation of Workers' Educational Associations (IFWEA) was officially launched at
713-490: The democratic labour movement; and to promote the carrying out of free and voluntary educational work, according to the principles of solidarity and cooperation, justice and equality, and democracy and freedom”. The highest decision making assembly in IFWEA is the quadrennial International General Conference. The General Secretary, President and Executive Committee are elected at this conference. The 22nd IFWEA General Conference
744-558: The early 1970s, who was one of the Group's central members. Feaver helped revive interest in their work, which was restored and featured in several touring exhibitions. In the 1980s, the Group's Permanent Collection was the first exhibition of western art to be shown in China after the Cultural Revolution . The Group's meeting hut was finally demolished in 1983; Kilbourn, the last of the Group's founding members, arranged for
775-600: The paintings to be put in trust prior to his death in 1993. They are now held by Woodhorn Museum. Feaver's book about the Group, Pitmen Painters: The Ashington Group 1934-1984 , has been adapted by Lee Hall as a play The Pitmen Painters . The last surviving member of the Ashington Group John F. (Jack) Harrison, died in 2004, a few months short of his hundredth birthday. The Permanent Collection of Ashington Group work can be seen at Woodhorn near Ashington , Northumberland . Artist Narbi Price completed
806-582: The provision of education resources, web communication and learning events such as workshops, seminars and conferences. The IFWEA Secretariat was registered in Cape Town, South Africa in 2009, after the election of IFWEA General Secretary Sahra Ryklief in December 2007. Previously it had been registered in the UK with the Secretariat in Manchester, and prior to that, it was hosted by the AOF Norway, with
837-418: The social protection of vulnerable workers. The courses are designed by IFWEA affiliates who have expertise in these fields. The Study Circles for Social Change Programme (SCSC) promotes study circles by training potential study circle facilitators. The study circles promote collective learning. The programme also brings study circle facilitators from different countries together online to share information on
868-573: Was David Thomas , who taught classes for the WEA in Caernarfonshire from 1928 to 1959, and instigated the founding of Lleufer (Light) as a Welsh-language WEA periodical, which he edited it until 1965. Coleg Harlech was founded in 1925 as a residential college for workers' education, and in 2001 merged with the WEA (North Wales). Further mergers in 2014 unified North and South, then in 2015 WEA Cymru merged with YMCA Community College to form Adult Learning Wales - Addysg Oedolion Cymru . WEA NI
899-701: Was briefly revived in 2015. Similar Australian organisations include Melbourne's Centre for Adult Education , and historically, the many mechanics' institutes across the country. There are also some branches in Canada which have presently and currently opened in March 2014 although however its services has been established since 1917 (98 years old) and is part of the WEA International; it operates mainly in Toronto, Ottawa, and Halifax as well as St Johns. it
930-931: Was first set up in Belfast in 1910. It would come to operate across Northern Ireland and in the Border Counties in the Republic. It eventually had around 6,500 learners in any given year. It ceased to function in June 2014, when it ran into a cash flow problem and its bank refused to extend credit. It provided adult education in community and workplace settings. Its title was somewhat misleading as it provided education for all types of people and in particular tried to reach out to those who missed out on learning first time round. It worked mainly with those over 18. Its courses were organized mainly in venues such as community halls, arts centres and training rooms in workplaces. In 1913,
961-595: Was held in Lima, Peru in 2015, the 23rd IFWEA General Conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2019 and the 24th IFWEA General Conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2023. The role of the IFWEA Secretariat is to stimulate the development of a democratic workers’ education movement, by providing contact between member organisations, assisting with the development of partnerships, and promoting best practice in educational design and delivery through