LONDON.- New projects supported by
Art Fund will see museums and galleries across the UK forging new partnerships to share their world-leading collections with local communities.
Announced today, Wednesday 27 March, 12 regional galleries and museums – from Pier Arts Centre in Orkney to The MAC in Belfast and York Army Museum – have been awarded grants for new exhibitions through the latest round of the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund, supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation, with major loans from national institutions including the National Portrait Gallery and Tate.
And 23 arts and heritage organisations have been selected to take part in the development phase of Art Fund’s Going Places – a new UK-wide programme that will engage underrepresented audiences with museum collections through collaborative touring exhibitions, with lead support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Jenny Waldman, Director, Art Fund, said: “We’re delighted to help museums and galleries work together to share their collections with local communities across the UK through innovative and sustainable approaches to exhibition-making. Through the Weston Loan Programme with Art Fund and Going Places, there will be more opportunities than ever for people to enjoy exceptional art on their doorsteps.
“We’re incredibly grateful to the Garfield Weston Foundation for their generous support towards the Weston Loan Programme, which has supported over 90 organisations since the scheme launched seven years ago. And it’s thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund that museums from all corners of the UK – from Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham to Penlee House in Penzance – will collaborate and work with local communities to tell new stories through Going Places. Our National Art Pass members help Art Fund make all these initiatives possible.”
Weston Loan Programme
Art Fund and the Garfield Weston Foundation have today announced the latest round of exhibitions to be supported by the Weston Loan Programme – the first UK-wide grant programme designed to directly fund and empower smaller museums to borrow major works from national or major lending museums and galleries.
The twelve new recipients include: Nottingham Contemporary for the first major retrospective on Black British artist Donald Rodney; The Granary Gallery, Maltings (Berwick) Trust for an exhibition exploring Lowry’s lifelong fascination with the sea; and Petersfield Museum and Art Gallery for an exhibition telling the little-known story of American art collector Peggy Guggenheim’s time living near Petersfield.
Major institutions loaning objects through the scheme include the National Portrait Gallery, the British Library, Arts Council Collection, Tate, National Trust, and the British Museum.
Highlights of loans made possible through the programme, now in its eighth year, include: Jane Austen’s writing desk travelling to God’s House Tower in Southampton as part of a celebration of the writer’s 250th birthday; seascapes by LS Lowry on show in Berwick where the artist was a regular visitor, capturing the town’s views of the North Sea; and two 14th century ewers (lidded jugs) which travelled via trade routes to Kumasi and the Asante court in southern Ghana which are being loaned by the British Museum for an exhibition at York Army Museum.
In addition, the Weston Loan Programme has awarded research and development grants to Amersham Museum, Southwark Park Galleries, The National Memorial Arboretum and Lighthouse in Poole. These grants will support each organisation to develop their plans for ambitious loans projects, giving them the necessary time and space to undertake research, carry out consultation, engage with institutions, and refine proposals.
A total of £308,606 has been awarded in this round, bringing the total so far to almost £1.6 million across 93 organisations since the scheme began in 2017.
The Weston Loan Programme increases access to notable objects, shares resources across the country and brings lasting benefits to borrowers, lenders and audiences. The programme was conceived and continues to be generously supported by the Garfield Weston Foundation. It is continuing for another three years thanks to a £1 million grant, taking this important partnership to its 10th anniversary in 2027.
Sophia Weston, Deputy Chair and Trustee of the Garfield Weston Foundation, said: “Encompassing museums, galleries and historic buildings, this year's awardees are a great demonstration of the aims of the Weston Loan Programme - bringing fascinating art and objects to places where they can tell resonant and engaging stories to new audiences. From works by some of our most celebrated artists such as Lowry and Turner, to precious historical items like Jane Austen's writing desk we are thrilled to support the display of these treasures across the UK."
Going Places
Announced today, 23 arts and heritage organisations have been selected to take part in the development phase of Art Fund’s Going Places - a new UK-wide programme that will engage underrepresented audiences with museum collections through collaborative touring exhibitions.
Participating organisations span the breadth of the UK, from the Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum to Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, Tŷ Pawb in Wrexham and Penlee House Gallery & Museum in Penzance.
Seven networks have been established to develop plans for two touring exhibitions over five years. Local communities will be involved in shaping exhibition themes and outreach programming and will bring their voices to each display by reinterpreting collections to tell new stories. If Art Fund is successful with a subsequent delivery phase application to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, and with further fundraising, the networks will go on to produce their exhibitions with audiences across the country from 2025-2030.
One network of organisations from each devolved nation (Carmarthenshire Museums; Inverness Museum and Art Gallery; the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum) will explore local heritage and traditions of making – such as Irish linen, Scottish wool and Welsh tin-making – through objects from their collections including textiles, costume and paintings.
Going Places builds on the recommendations of the 2022 research report Going places: Touring and shared exhibitions in the UK, commissioned by Art Fund and Creative Scotland, revealing that touring and shared exhibition partnerships are a key way to meet the audience demand for high-quality, accessible exhibitions.
The development of Going Places is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and additional support from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation.
Stuart McLeod, Director of England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that the first heritage organisations have been chosen for Going Places. This project will touch all corners of the UK and will allow these museums to come together to develop their skills and resources to plan towards their future, particularly through touring exhibitions. These museums are integral to telling the stories of the places we call home and give communities a chance to engage with the heritage that is on our doorsteps. We are looking forward to working with Art Fund as we support their application for a full grant at a later date.”
