My art education comes from a variety of places.
By far, the best place to learn about materials, archival standards, and techniques was in the retail art supply industry. Product leaflets, web sites, sales reps, and just learning the inventory are great ways to learn about materials. Books would come second for this information.
Standards of craftsmanship was communicated the strongest in the construction industry by the tradesman who had the highest standards. All the trades have their own fine detail work, and working alongside them in the final punches makes me want to be in their ranks.
University was the place to learn creativity and the competitiveness of the art scene.
Biographies and picture books of artists are so helpful and encouraging. It is so nice to read how Vemeer put his pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us.
But the best place to learn art theory, that is, academic art training seems to be from books and the internet.
For these reasons, I do not think anyone without formal art training is lacking any opportunity to be an artist. The information is highly available to any person who wants to teach themselves.