The Hope Appeal

“The challenge of Watts Gallery is to preserve its quality of mystery and wonder, while preventing the building from physically falling to bits. It is a precious place, I know of nowhere in the world like it.”

Maev Kennedy, Heritage Correspondent, The Guardian

The Hope Appeal was launched in 2005 with the aim of securing the financial future of the Gallery, restoring the buildings, conserving the collection, extending the education programme and establishing Watts Gallery as a centre for the exploration of Victorian art, social history and craft.

The original financial target set was £10.1million and we had the support of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund of £4.3million. Through the wonderful generosity of a huge range of charitable trusts, foundation, public authorities, organisations and individual donors this was achieved and as a result of this restoration work began in January 2009.

We are delighted that we have now more or less raised sufficient sums to meet our target for the Watts Gallery Hope Appeal.  We are immensely grateful to all those who gave so much to secure sufficient funds to unlock the incredibly generous support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. 

Thank you to everyone who gave anything from £10 to nearly £1m. We could not have come this far without you.  Now we face the challenge of raising the year on year funds to cover the running costs of Watts Gallery.  Your support as Friends or Patrons is a vital source of funding for these annual core costs and we are very grateful for this generous involvement.

For further information please contact the Director or Appeal Coordinator
director@wattsgallery.org.uk
appeal@wattsgallery.org.uk
or call us on 01483 810 235