In recent years we have extended our work, beyond the purchase of works of art, to include the restoration and building refurbishment projects and education and public programmes.
We supported the creation of the Central Court on the first floor of Leeds Art Gallery, which revealed the original glazed barrel vault ceiling. It has provided a light, white space for large scale installations and it is regularly used for learning activities. It has even been the site of an installation where skateboard coach, Ro Elliott, skated on Dani Abulhawa’s, Drift Tricks, in April 2024. Abulhawa’s work was chosen by Lubaina Himid to feature in the exhibition, Found Cities, Lost Objects.
During lockdown we supported artists working in the region commissioning a series of online talks in which they shared their experience of maintaining their art practice during the pandemic.
We also supported the Gallery to buy prints from sites such as Vide Atelier set up to provide artists with online purchase opportunities. With funds from the Barbara Roberts Bequest, we funded the purchase of the screenprint, Better Days are Coming I Promise, by Yinka Ilori. This screenprint recalls a temporary billboard created for the Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.
Recently we have provided funds towards the reinstatement of the Butler’s Pantry at Temple Newsam. The glittering new displays are now open and show off the magnificent silver and metalware collections in the refurbished plate safe in of the original pantry. This reveals for the first time the behind the scenes working spaces used by servants in a great country house. It includes the Butler’s occasional bed, for use when he was required to work late for grand functions.
On the upper floor of our own Leeds Art Gallery, there was a dark corridor!
This was removed to reveal, Wow! A huge barrel vaulted gallery, with an ancient, rain damaged roof and walls festooned with a giant spiderweb of old cables, looping in every direction.
Just look at it now!