The Barber Institute of Fine Arts is an art gallery in the English city of Birmingham, situated in purpose built premises on the campus of the University of Birmingham. The Grade II listed building, designed by Robert Atkinson in the 1930s and opened in 1939 by Queen Mary, is a fine example of art deco architecture. The layout of the museum is centred around a central music atrium which is surrounded by lecture halls, offices and libraries on the ground floor and art galleries on the first floor.
The Institue was set up by Dame Martha Constance Hattie Barber the wife of a wealthy property developer, William Henry Barber , who made his fortune expanding Birmingham's sprawling suburbs. By his mid-thirties the couple retired but their connections with the city remained strong. In 1924 William Henry Barber received a baronetcy for 'Political Services to Birmingham'. Unfortunately he died three years later. However, Lady Barber decided to make sure a permanent contribution was made to the city by her husband. In 1932 the Barber Institute of Fine Arts was established; Lady Barber passed away 4 months later leaving all of her assets to the trustees of the institute. This money was used to expand the collection and fund the construction of a new building.
The collection is full of famous works by artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Auguste Rodin, Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet. The institute also has one of the world largest coin collections which was supplemented in 1967 with 15,000 coins from Phillip Whitting and Geoffrey Haines. Many concerts take place at the Barber throughout the year, as well as a music festival which is held in June.
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