A Summer of Art: Places to
Visit
This series of talks will give you the opportunity to fill
your summer with art. It will include in-depth information on
exhibitions, museums and some alternative places to view art this
summer. In examining some old favourites and new discoveries it
will give you fantastic places to enjoy art with friends and family
for day visits and weekends away.
The History of the Royal Academy and the
Summer Exhibition
Tuesday 18 May
Since the foundation of the Royal Academy in
1768, its annual exhibition has been a highlight in London’s arts
calendar. This lecture will look at the RA over the years,
some of its highs and lows, its faithful followers and its radical
rebels. It will examine the central role the Summer
Exhibition has played in its history, from its beginnings under the
Presidency of Sir Joshua Reynolds to its position today.
Culminating in a look at some of the exhibitions’ recent
highlights, it will reveal many reasons why no summer in London is
complete without a visit to the Summer Exhibition.
Lecturer: Rosalind Whyte
‘A Tiny Treasure’: The Foundling
Museum
Tuesday 25 May
Lecturer: Frank Woodgate
In 1739, after 17 years of campaigning,
Thomas Coram finally achieved a Royal Charter for the Founding
Hospital. As well as its vital role in caring for abandoned
children, the Hospital was in effect the first public art gallery
in London, thanks to the efforts of William Hogarth. Another
major supporter was George Frederic Handel, who wrote an anthem for
the Hospital and conducted many benefit performances of
Messiah in the Chapel. The 18th century building in
Brunswick Square was demolished in 1926, but an adjacent site now
houses a superb museum, a large collection of art, furniture and
haunting memorabilia, including a stunning display of Handel’s life
and work. It is gratifying to know that Coram’s work for
vulnerable young people continues to this day through the charity
that bears his name. The aim of this lecture is to encourage
you to visit the Museum or to visit it again if you have already
been!
Lecturer: Peter Scott
“Art in the Open Air: Arty Gardens and
Sculpture Parks
Tuesday 8 June
Sculpture Parks are relatively young in terms
of the art establishment. Some were founded in the late 1970’s with
many as recently as the 1990’s. They provide an excellent way
to enjoy the landscape and art at the same time. This talk will
describe what led to their development, how the Forestry Commission
have used them to encourage visitors to take a fresh look at their
environment and how they are still evolving today. Artists
have also used their own gardens as another means of expression to
explore and experiment. Find out about the gardens of Barbara
Hepworth and Ian Hamilton Finlay among others. This talk will take
you all over Britain looking at art in the open air, introducing
you to some places you will wish to visit again and
again.
Lecturer: Melanie Paice
A Collection of Rarities –
The Ashmolean Museum in
Oxford
Tuesday 22 June
Founded in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford is Britain’s oldest
public museum, having at its heart the collections of two
remarkable 17th century men, John Tradescant and Elias
Ashmole. It has grown into one of the finest museums in Europe,
filled with paintings and treasures from many ages and different
continents.
Last autumn it re-opened after a major
refurbishment, with 39 glorious new galleries, designed by
architect Rick Mather, displaying the collections with elegance and
panache. This talk will explore the story of this great museum and
reveal some of the intriguing characters that have formed its
history across the past three centuries.
Lecturer: Jo Walton
All four speakers lecture
extensively for Tate Britain, Tate Modern, throughout Britain and
internationally
Series of 4 lectures £35, £27 Friends
Single lectures £10, £8 Friends
How to Book Your Tickets
On sale date for tickets to be announced shortly.