After a quiet couple of months – FLAG (Friends of the Laing Art Gallery) is getting set for a sizzling summer (let’s hope the weather follows suit!).
The main event is, of course, our Gala Lunch celebrating our 50th Anniversary, to be held on 20th September at the Assembly Rooms – tickets are selling fast so contact us to make sure you are involved in this special day.
Before that we have our AGM on 23rd June and in July we are looking forward to our trip down the Tyne in the company of the celebrated writer Michael Chaplin. We also have a visit to Blackwell, The Arts and Craft House in Windermere – this summer it hosts an exhibition of works by Evelyn De Morgan. This exhibition focuses on her pacifism and reaction to both the Boer War and World War 1.
Join us on our trip to Whitby in August – where we will visit the Captain Cook Museum. The museum’s rich collection celebrates Cook’s achievements and the work of those who sailed with him. On loan to the museum is a very special painting. The Kongouro from New Holland by George Stubbs. Depicting a kangaroo, this is one of only two paintings Stubbs did not draw from a live subject.
In September Flag are ‘taking the train’ with a visit to Pickering and travelling from Grosmont to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and in October we are visiting Abbot Hall in Kendal – where there is an exhibition of Canaletto’s Architecture – Celebrating Georgian Britain. If you are in the Gallery – stop at the FLAG Welcome desk and pick up a copy of our light hearted quiz – only £1 – and you have a chance to win an Eldon Square voucher!
We have a special issue of Friends News, our quarterly newsletter – looking back at the work and the people involved who have all made such a significant contribution to the Gallery and celebrating our golden anniversary.
Soon we say farewell to our very popular Conscience and Conflict exhibition (if you haven’t seen it – you still have a few days left – but hurry – time is running out!)
In June we will be welcoming Picture This – Children’s Illustrated Classics – starting on the 20th and running through to 27th September. Featured artists include Quentin Blake, Michael Foreman Peggy Fortnum and Lauren Child. An interesting day out for the whole family during the school holidays.
So a busy few months in store. Contact us for more information on the summer trips and we hope you will join us in celebrating our special anniversary year.
You can contact us on 0191 261 0962, e-mail us art@flag.fslife.co.uk or pop in and see us, there’s usually someone in the office on Tuesday and Wednesday’s. You can also print out an application form here.