Documento GAL/14 - Papers relating to the National Art Collection Fund

York Art Gallery reopened in 1948 following the Second World War, when it had been requisitioned by the military. The Gallery had sustained bomb damage in 1942, and it would be more than a decade before the vision of the Director, Hans Hess, his team and volunteers, plus the generosity of benefactors created an Art Gallery of some renown.

The reopening coincided with the foundation of the York Art Collection Society, whose mission was and is today the 'creating of a lively interest in all artistic matters and establishing a fund from which, from time to time, works of permanent value can be acquired for presentation to the Art Gallery'. The Society was later renamed the Friends of York Art Gallery in 1955.

In 1975 the Friends began a programme of tours, talks and outings, which has continued to increase over the years. Alongside this work, the Friends have supported the Art Gallery financially in acquiring a number of works of art for the collections. The Friends fund the annual sponsorship for an MA student (History of Art) at the University of York, Family Saturdays and lectures by visiting artists, such as the annual Centre of Ceramic Art (CoCA) lecture.

The appeal launched in 2012 to raise £70,000 towards the cost of the Art Gallery's Fine Art Store has been the Friends most significant financial contribution, and in 2014 a grant from the Friends helped the Art Gallery purchase two tour audio guide systems, aimed at tour guides taking large grops round the galleries.
Supports the work of York Art Gallery.