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Thanks to grants received from the Wolfson Foundation (£150k), The National Lottery Heritage Fund (£116k), The Foyle Foundation (£75k) and individual supporters, the Trust will now be able to make these vital upgrades and improve the environment for its visitors, staff and volunteers.
The purpose-built gallery – which first opened its doors to visitors in 1904 – displays paintings and sculpture by George Frederic Watts OM RA (1817-1904), one of the most famous artists of the Victorian age and the first living artist to be given a solo exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art (1884-85). It is to safeguard these important objects along with major works loaned to the museum for temporary exhibitions and displays that the repairs are needed, and so that the ECS continues to meet Government Indemnity requirements.
Each year Watts Gallery welcomes over 40,000 visitors and, inspired by the art and legacies of GF and Mary Watts (1849-1938) – artist, designer and, with her husband, co-founder of Watts Gallery – it is a creative home for the local community. By helping to secure the charity’s sustainability, this grant will protect Watts Gallery’s future. ECS works have commenced onsite and will be completed by the end 2025.
Mady Henderson, Co-CEO (interim) at Watts Gallery Trust, said: “We’re delighted to have received this support from the Wolfson Foundation, The National Lottery Heritage Fund, The Foyle Foundation as well as donations from vital supporters. On behalf of everyone at Watts Gallery, a huge thank you. Art for All by All is our mission, and this grant will ensure that many more people can take inspiration from our collections and from our extraordinary heritage as we invest in a stronger future for Watts Gallery.”
For further press information contact Tamsin Williams – tamsin@wigwampr.com
Notes to Editors:
Watts Gallery
Watts Gallery Trust is an independent charity established in 1904 to enable future generations to connect with the art and ideas of George Frederic Watts, one of the leading artists of the nineteenth century, and his artist-wife, Mary Seton Watts.
G F Watts OM RA (1817-1904) was widely considered to be the greatest painter of the Victorian age. He became the first living artist to have a solo exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, and the artist’s ‘gift to the Nation’ made a significant contribution to the founding collections of Tate Britain and the National Portrait Gallery.
Mary Watts (1849-1938) was an artist, designer, writer, businesswoman and philanthropist. Her art supported and inspired the people around her, involving local communities in her projects. She was the creative powerhouse behind two significant enterprises: the Watts Chapel and the Compton Potters’ Arts Guild.
Today, Watts Gallery continues George and Mary Watts's legacy of Art for all by all. This vision to make art accessible to everyone is realised through a dynamic and multi-sensory programme of creativity, exhibitions, contemporary art projects and community engagement. Read more.
About the Wolfson Foundation
The Wolfson Foundation is an independent charity with a focus on research and education. Its aim is to support civil society by investing in excellent projects in science, health, heritage, humanities and the arts.
Since it was established in 1955, some £1 billion (£2 billion in real terms) has been awarded to more than 14,000 projects throughout the UK, all on the basis of expert review.
X: @wolfsonfdn
Our vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future. That’s why as the largest funder for the UK’s heritage we are dedicated to supporting projects that connect people and communities to heritage, as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Heritage can be anything from the past that people value and want to pass on to future generations. We believe in the power of heritage to ignite the imagination, offer joy and inspiration, and to build pride in place and connection to the past.
Over the next 10 years, we aim to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to make a decisive difference for people, places and communities.
heritagefund.org.uk
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter/X, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLottery #HeritageFund
About The Foyle Foundation
The Foyle Foundation was established in 2000 as an independent grant making trust to distribute grants to UK based charities (primarily arts and learning) and schools. The Foundation’s long planned spend down and closure takes place in December 2025 by when it will have distributed over £180M in total, including a number of legacy projects with long term benefit.