The Friends of York Art Gallery Welcome You!

  • sarahlucasnud4

    ‘NUD4’ by Sarah Lucas (1962- )

  • mereterasmussonyellowfoirm

    ‘Yellow form’ by Merete Rasmussen (1974- )

  • (c) Ms Carol Ann Lowry/DACS; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

    (c) Ms Carol Ann Lowry/DACS; Supplied by The Public Catalogue Foundation

  • leapingsalmonbernardleach

    ‘Leaping Salmon Vase’ by Bernard Leach (1887-1979)

  • ettyfancydressball

    ‘Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball’ by William Etty (1787-1849)

  • burra

    ‘Silver Dollar Bar’ by Edward Burra 1905-1976

  • Ceramic Lidded Storage 'Jar' - Acquired 1992 by David Lloyd Jones 1928-1994

    Ceramic Lidded Storage ‘Jar’ – Acquired 1992 by David Lloyd Jones 1928-1994

  • Porcelain teapot and six cups - Acquired 2005 by Chris Keenan 1960-

    Porcelain teapot and six cups – Acquired 2005
    by Chris Keenan 1960-

  • Gun Crew - Acquired 1982 by Henry Lamb 1883-1960

    Gun Crew – Acquired 1982
    by Henry Lamb 1883-1960

  • The Minster of York from the City Walls - Acquired 1987 by John White Abbott 1753-1861

    The Minster of York from the City Walls – Acquired 1987 by John White Abbott 1753-1861

  • Ceramic Bowl Scene de tauromachie - Acquired 2005 by Pablo Picasso 1881-1973

    Ceramic Bowl Scene de tauromachie – Acquired 2005
    by Pablo Picasso 1881-1973

  • Jean Abercromby, Mrs Morrison of Haddo - Acquired 2003 by Allan Ramsay 1713-1784

    Jean Abercromby, Mrs Morrison of Haddo – Acquired 2003
    by Allan Ramsay 1713-1784

  • Portrait of the Artist - Acquired 1972 by Andrea Soldi 1703-1771

    Portrait of the Artist – Acquired 1972
    by Andrea Soldi 1703-1771

  • Portrait of John Smyth of Heath Hall, Yorkshire - Acquired 1996 by Pompeo Girolamo Batoni 1708-1787

    Portrait of John Smyth of Heath Hall, Yorkshire – Acquired 1996
    by Pompeo Girolamo Batoni 1708-1787

  • 'Melanie' by Grayson Perry (1960- )

    ‘Melanie’ by Grayson Perry (1960- )

  • Lumber Room Jug By Emily Sutton - Acquired 2016

    Lumber Room Jug
    By Emily Sutton – Acquired 2016

  • The Lumber Room - Noah's Ark By Emily Sutton - Acquired 2016

    The Lumber Room – Noah’s Ark
    By Emily Sutton – Acquired 2016

  • Twelve Apostles:

    Twelve Apostles: 2015
    By Loretta Braganza
    Acquired 2016

The Friends of York Art Gallery was founded in 1948, and it recorded its first contribution to an acquisition for the York Art Gallery collection in 1949 when ‘Samson and Delilah’ (1642) by Pieter Soutman was purchased for £160!

In the following 69 years the Friends have contributed in excess of £600,000 to the acquisition of more than 150 works of art including paintings, drawings, photography, film, sculpture and ceramics, and the conservation or restoration of a wide variety of works in the Gallery collection. A selection of the art to which the Friends have contributed appears in the scroll on this ‘HOME’ page.

Many of the acquisitions during these decades exceeded the budget of the Friends, but the financial contribution from the Friends has proven to be crucial to attracting financial support, that is the balance of the acquisition cost, from other sources such as Philanthropic Societies, the Art Fund or Heritage Lottery. Demonstrating ‘local’ support is a key role that the Friends can play!

In celebration of the Friends 70th anniversary in 2018 there will be an exhibition May – September of many of the works that have acquired or restored thanks to the Friends contributions. It will be supplemented by a series of talks about the artists, the subjects of their works and the benefit of this collection to the public.

An important source of funding is bequests left to this charity by Friends and those in the community who want to help ensure the future of York Art Gallery. Additionally, significant sources of revenue include the annual membership subscriptions, and profits from the Gallery Dines Out luncheons, always popular, tours and some lectures, such as the annual CoCA lecture.

An annual grant is made to sponsor MA Scholars (History of Art) at University of York. In the ‘Publications’ section you will find copies of the Scholars annual reports to the Friends on their research. We also contribute to local primary school initiatives in partnership with York Art Gallery and York Civic trust. The competition for 2016-17, ‘An Alternative View of York’, involved 15 schools, 74 classes and almost 2000 students.

Very popular are the visits to other Galleries, artist’s studios and farther afield to major exhibitions. In the past year the Friends have visited Leicester, North of France, the Ashmolean in Oxford, for example, and this year there are to be visits to Galleries in Liverpool, Guildford, G. F. Watts’s home in Bexley Heath, Leighton House in London, Ferens Gallery and the Hull University Gallery. The 2018 visit schedule is in planning. It is expected that the Friends international trip will be to Munich. Join us!

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