The Friends gave a quarter of a million pounds to Dulwich Picture Gallery last year
By David Parry, the Honorary Treasurer of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery.
“We believe we give a lot more money to the Gallery than any other entirely volunteer Friends organisation does to its gallery or museum. The £250,000 we’ve given this year is a record. That sort of money doesn’t grow on trees, you don’t find it under the mattress and it doesn’t come from quantitative easing. So how do we do it?Most of our 6,000 Friends live within a few miles of the Gallery and many of them are within walking distance. Those Friends, and many local residents who are not Friends (shame on them!), are proud and happy that we have an outstanding, world-famous art gallery in Dulwich. They feel it “belongs” to them. Incidentally, we also have the only golf course in the world which overlooks a capital city and Shackleton’s iconic ‘James Caird’. What a place! Not bad for a “meadow where the dill grows”.
Local pride is what makes the Friends such a successful organisation. Our Friends pay their subscriptions (which make up about 65% of our income) so that they can make unlimited visits the Gallery to view their old friends, the permanent collection, and experience new dimensions in the special exhibitions. The Gallery is also a place where they can enjoy the company of their old and new human friends. It’s a wonderful meeting place. We would love everyone in Dulwich to share these pleasures with us.
The rest of our income comes from sponsorships (and we are particularly grateful to Wates and Dulwich Audi for their great generosity), from the many events we offer (concerts, lectures, films and visits) and from the Government which refunds tax on subscriptions paid by Friends under Gift Aid. We believe that we have a higher proportion of our Friends Gift-Aiding their subscriptions than any other Friends organisation.
The amount and quality of work done by our volunteers to achieve our financial results is incalculable. Think of a swan – serene on the surface but paddling like mad below the water. It really is like that. Don’t miss out. Come and join us!”
Click here to find out more about the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery
DOV articles about Shackleton and the James Caird
The James Caird Exhibition
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2 Comments
I strongly feel that the diversity of events put on by the Friends Committee is one of the strong points in getting people to visit the gallery. People who have never visited before will come to a Lecture, concert or event and will then see the wonderful collection of paintings in an intimate and inspiring setting and hopefully join the Friends.
David is the world’s most unexpected blogger, except for me … But it’s good to have the virtues and achievements of the Friends of Dulwich Picture Gallery spelt out so clearly and I’m driven to compose in the new (to me) medium
And, while I’m at it, congratulations to Dulwich On View for your pioneering achievements, especially in showcasing the activities of Dulwich Picture Gallery, at the heart of the Dulwich community – pointing the way ahead for other less senior but grander arts organisations.
I hope we aren’t getting pleased with ourselves …
Now let’s find some faults…