Falmouth Art Gallery facts for kids
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The Municipal Buildings in Falmouth (the gallery is on the upper floor)
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| Established | 10 October 1978 |
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| Location | The Moor, Municipal Buildings, Falmouth, Cornwall |
| Type | Publicly funded art museum |
| Nearest parking | Town Quarry car park |
The Falmouth Art Gallery is a cool place in Cornwall, England, where you can see amazing art! It's one of the best art collections in Cornwall and the southwest of England. You'll find all sorts of art here, from very old paintings by "old masters" to modern art. There are also works by famous artists from the Victorian era, French Impressionists, and even artists who illustrate children's books. The gallery is located on The Moor, on the top floor of the Municipal Buildings, right above the Library in Falmouth.
Contents
A Look at the Gallery's History
The Falmouth Art Gallery, as we know it today, first opened its doors on October 12, 1978. It's located on the upper floor of the Municipal Buildings. The gallery got a big makeover with help from the Heritage Lottery Fund and other groups. It was reopened by Sir Tim Rice on May 31, 1996. The Falmouth Town Council helps fund the gallery, and it's a nationally recognized museum. This means it follows high standards for museums in the United Kingdom.
How the Collection Started
The main part of the gallery's art collection began in 1923. This was thanks to generous gifts from a man named Alfred de Pass. He was a businessman and art lover from South Africa. He spent a lot of his own money buying art and then gave it to museums and galleries. His gifts encouraged many other important donations. People like Richard Harris, Robert Priseman, Grace Gardner, and Sue and Ron Astles have also given art to the gallery. The gallery has also bought new art with money from groups like The Art Fund.
What You Can See: The Art Collection
Most of the art at Falmouth Art Gallery came from donations by Alfred de Pass. He was a very generous person who loved art and wanted to share it. He spent a lot of his money buying beautiful artworks.
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Famous Artists and Their Works
The gallery has many works by important British artists. These include Sir Frank Brangwyn, Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, Dame Laura Knight, and Henry Scott Tuke. You can also see paintings by a famous Cornish artist named John Opie.
In 2009, the gallery received a big collection of art. This included etchings by famous artists like Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Edvard Munch. It also had works by Prunella Clough, who was a very important British painter after World War II. In 2013, the British artist Robert Priseman gave 20 artworks to the gallery. This gift included pieces by leading British artists of the 21st century, such as Sir Peter Blake.
Prints, Photos, and Surreal Art
Falmouth Art Gallery also has one of the most important collections of master prints outside of London. These are special types of art made using techniques like woodcuts, engravings, and lithographs. You can see prints by very old masters like Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt. There are also modern prints by artists like Henri Matisse, Pablo Picasso, and Andy Warhol.
The gallery also has smaller but important collections of photos from the 20th century and today. It has the largest collection of Lee Miller photographs outside of her main archive. You can also see photos by Eve Arnold and Linda McCartney. The gallery also has a collection of Surrealist art. This includes photos by Roland Penrose and works by Henry Moore and Eileen Agar.
Exciting Exhibitions and Events
Falmouth Art Gallery always has interesting exhibitions and events happening. They show art from their own collection, along with pieces borrowed from other big museums. You can also see art by local artists, community groups, and students.
Rotating Art Displays
The gallery has a very large and varied art collection for a smaller museum. They often change the artworks on display in the main galleries. This means there's always something new to see! They organize the art around different themes.
Community Art Space
The staircase gallery is used for art made by the community. Groups like local schools and Falmouth University often visit. They create their own art inspired by what they see in the gallery.
Special Exhibitions
In late 2021 and early 2022, the gallery hosted a special exhibition called 'Thanks for the Apples'. This show featured well-known artists from around the world. The artists visited museums in Cornwall and chose objects that interested them. They then created new art based on these objects. They looked at things that might seem small or overlooked, like a hairball or tiny calendar. This made people think about what these objects mean to us today.
The gallery also creates special art for seasonal exhibitions. For example, in 2009, they had a Darwin200 exhibition. This celebrated when Charles Darwin arrived in Falmouth in 1836 after his famous voyage on HMS Beagle. A special plaque was put up in Falmouth to mark where Darwin came ashore.
In 2016, a Cornish artist named Andrew Lanyon created an exhibition called 'The Musings of Creatures - imagined in a barren land'. This show brought many new artworks into the Falmouth Art Gallery Collection.
The gallery often works with other organizations for its exhibitions. These include Penlee House Museum and Gallery and the Royal Cornwall Museum.
Learning and Fun at the Gallery
The gallery offers free workshops all year round for many different visitors. This includes families, babies and toddlers, schools, and community groups. They especially welcome groups with special needs and adults with learning difficulties. These workshops are a great way to get creative and learn about art!
Awards and Recognition
Falmouth Art Gallery has been recognized with many important awards. It has been nominated for or won 19 major awards. These include winning The Guardian newspaper's Kids in Museums Award in 2006. It also won the Sandford Award for Heritage Education and was nominated for the Gulbenkian Prize, which is a very important arts award in Britain.
