Wedgwood and Flaxman: a talk by Sir Tristram Hunt

12 Feb 2026

‘Wedgwood and Flaxman: A Creative Alliance’, a talk by The Honourable Sir Tristram Hunt, FRHistS, Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum. This lecture in the Tempest Anderson Hall, Yorkshire Museum, has been organised in connection with the exhibition on John...

LS Lowry: Two paintings in York Art Gallery

12 Feb 2026

Our speaker for Artwork of the Month, January 2026, was Jane Eddleston, a member of the Visitor Team at York Art Gallery. In her talk Jane reflected on the two paintings by L. S. Lowry in the Gallery’s collection, both currently on display in the Burton Gallery,...

Overnight visit to Stourbridge

4 Feb 2026

*** Update: last available room has gone *** The Stourbridge area was a major centre of glassmaking for 400 years and was particularly well known for its fine lead crystal. Established by French refugees in the seventeenth century, the industry thrived for many years,...

Talk on the Fulleylove Stained-Glass Window, St Lawrence Church, York

4 Feb 2026

Our speaker, Alison Gilchrist, is an accredited stained-glass conservator at Barley Studio, York. In late 2025 the Barley Studio were honoured to work on this very special memorial window from St Lawrence’s Church, York. Designed by the Arts and Crafts artist, Joan...

Talk: Flaxman as Sculptor and Illustrator

4 Feb 2026

A talk by Sir Nicholas Penny FBA, FSA, Director of the National Gallery 2008-2015. Flaxman as Sculptor and Illustrator. This lecture by Sir Nicholas, together with one by Sir Tristram Hunt in October, has been organised in connection with the exhibition,...

Tour of the Borthwick Institute for Archives

4 Feb 2026

The Borthwick is one of the biggest archive repositories outside London. Since 2005 it has been based in a purpose- built building made possible by a grant of £4.4 million by the Heritage Lottery Fund. In this tour, Gary Brannan, the Keeper of Archives and Special...

Tour of Birdsall House, Malton

3 Feb 2026

Leaving Memorial Gardens at 1pm, we will travel by coach to Birdsall House, near Malton for a 2-hour guided tour by a member of the Willoughby family. Set in beautiful parkland, the original Tudor house was enlarged in the mid eighteenth century and later extended by...

Coach trip to Skipton

3 Feb 2026

We will leave Memorial Gardens by coach at 9am to travel to Skipton. Here we will first visit the newly refurbished Craven Museum, which was shortlisted for the Art Fund Museum of the year in 2024. Here we will have coffee and a short talk by the Curator, before...

Bernardo Bellotto: Piazza San Martino, Lucca

28 Nov 2025

Our speaker for Artwork of the Month, November 2025, was Charles Martindale, Chair of the Friends. His subject was Piazza San Martino, Lucca by Bernardo Bellotto, one of the gems of the Gallery collection and a favourite painting of Charles’s. Click the button...

‘The Indian Girl’ by William Etty

14 Nov 2025

Our speaker for Artwork of the Month, September 2025, was John Roe, formerly Secretary of the Friends. His subject was The Indian Girl, a painting by William Etty held in the collection of York Art Gallery and not usually on display. Click the button below for a...