Leader House, Surrey Street S1 2LH

Tel: 0114 278 2610 Museums Sheffield Friends Autumn Newsletter [email protected] www.museums-sheffield.org.uk

September 2018

Dear Friends, Graves Gallery

Welcome to your autumn newsletter. I hope you all had a wonderful summer and got the chance to visit some of our exhibitions, including the spectacular Circus! Show of Shows and the National Portrait Gallery exhibition, Victorian Giants: The Birth of Art Photography, endorsed by HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.

Since Circus! Show of Shows opened at in July it’s had a fantastic response from both our visitors and the press, and we were very pleased to welcome so many guests to the exhibition launch event. As a Friends member you receive exclusive invitations to all of our exhibitions launches and we love to see you at those and our other events.

During the summer, we also celebrated the anniversary of our Friends Circle membership. Friends Circle members were invited to attend a drinks reception and curator tour of Victorian Giants with Dr Sabina Jaskot-Gill, Curator of Photographs at The National Portrait Gallery. Dr Sabina provided a detailed and revealing insight into the exhibition and explained the personal and professional connections between the four ground-breaking photographers.

“We were very impressed with the introduction that Sabina Jaskot-Gill gave. We would never have gained as much from the exhibition without her expert and entertaining talk and tour.” Friends Circle Member

If you would like to find out more about upgrading to our Friends Circle membership get in touch – my contact details are below.

Circus! Show of Shows Co-curator, Professor Vanessa Toulmin, and Lord Mayor of Sheffield Mayor, Magid Magid are standing next to one of the world’s most famous circus paintings - Degas’ Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando. The painting comes to Sheffield on loan from the National Gallery.

Mel Russell, Friends Co-ordinator T: 0114 278 2610 E: [email protected]

Museums Sheffield Friends Week 2018

Over 55 Friends took part in Friends Week 9–13 July; a special week of events to thank Friends for their valuable and continued support. Throughout the week Friends had the opportunity to experience a variety of specially curated events, activities, talks and tours.

One of the highlights was a behind the scenes look at Museums Sheffield collections store. Friends had the chance to meet curators and take a closer look at some the collection not currently on display.

Comments from Friends:

“Once again thank you very much for organising this week and especially Tuesday's trip…the visit to the stores certainly didn’t disappoint”

“Thank YOU very much for organising this - and your colleagues in the archives for spending time showing us around. We really enjoyed it - I could spend days there! We are very impressed that Sheffield owns items of international importance as well as local.”

“It was a great experience - well organised with knowledgeable and personable professionals”.

Friends were also treated to an afternoon cruising along, and exploring the history of the Sheffield and Tinsley Canal, which opened on 22 February 1819.

Love being a Friend

Why not tell your friends and family about us, and recommend them joining Friends. A Friends membership makes a unique and perfect gift for a loved one too.

For more information on giving a Friend membership as a gift call the Friends Office on 0114 278 2610.

Museums Sheffield Wills Month Join us at Millennium Gallery on Thursday 4 October 2018 for free Will advice

Museums Sheffield are working in partnership with Wake Smith Solicitors; one of South Yorkshire’s leading firms of solicitors, to offer our Friends and supporters the opportunity to receive a free initial appointment and discounted Wills.

With such busy lives making a Will is one of those things that we often chose to put off, but a Will is the only way to make sure that the people and places you love will be taken care of. Nearly 60 per cent of adults across the UK have not written a Will, this places a big burden and additional expense on grieving loved ones. A Will is vital to ensure that your wishes are carried out.

However, making a will doesn’t need to be daunting; throughout October, Museums Sheffield are taking part in Wills Month in partnership with Wake Smith Solicitors, who will be offering free appointments to discuss making or changing a will with a discounted rate for MS Friends and Supporters. You can also join us at the Millennium Gallery on Thursday 4 Oct from 11am– 12.30pm for a scheduled 15 minute appointment or feel free to drop in between 12.30-2pm for an informal chat.

Why should I make my Will in Museums Sheffield Will Month? For a limited time Wake Smith are offering Friends the opportunity to make a Will at discounted rates. A Standard Will (individual) is usually £180.00 + VAT, but as part of your membership Friends will pay £150 + VAT. Mirror Wills (joint) are usually £300 + VAT, but Friends will pay £250 + VAT.

If you‘re interested in booking an appointment with Wake Smith Solicitors on 4 Oct please contact Mel Russell at [email protected] or call 0114 278 2610 by 1 Oct. Be sure to book early to avoid disappointment – limited spaces available.

Museums Sheffield Friends Welcome Tours: Wednesday 10 October & Saturday 13 October, Graves Gallery

As a special welcome for new Friends we have two upcoming welcome tours lead by long-time Friends and experienced guides, Christine Green and Robert Murray. Join Christine on Wednesday 10 October 2–2.30pm and Robert on Saturday 13 October at 1–1.30pm as they guide you around The Graves Gallery and share their knowledge about some of their favourite objects and artworks. If you would like to attend please contact Mel Russell at melanie.russell@museums- sheffield.org.uk or call 0114 278 2610 with the date you would prefer, by Friday 5 October.

Friends Annual Christmas Celebration SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday 5 December 2018, 6–8.30pm, Millennium Gallery

As a Friend, we are delighted to invite you and up to 4 guests to our Friends Annual Christmas Celebration as a thank you for your generosity and support throughout the year.

We’ll be in touch with more information nearer the time, but do pop the date in your diaries for now.

Sheffield Castle Open Days

Interested in exploring the remains of Sheffield’s 13th century castle and piecing together Sheffield’s medieval past? Don’t miss Wessex Archaeology’s site open days next month as part of the nationwide Heritage Open Days and Big Draw initiatives.

The open days will take place on 6 and 7 October. On 6 October, visitors to the site can also meet with artists using the site as inspiration for their work.

There will be 4 tours per day with a maximum of 20 people per tour.

For more information and to book your free tickets search ‘Sheffield Castle’ on eventbrite.co.uk

Christmas with Friends SAVE THE DATE: Handmade for Christmas, 26 Oct – 31 Dec 2018, Millennium Gallery

Featuring the very best in contemporary British craft and design, Handmade for Christmas presents work by some of the country’s most talented makers. Choose from beautiful jewellery, stylish glassware, ceramics and prints - all handmade in the UK. On Friday 26 and Saturday 27 October, Friends can enjoy a range of exclusive discounts as a thank you for your support.

Visit Millennium Gallery on 26 and 27 October between 10am - 5pm to enjoy the following exclusive discounts:

 10% off £1 - £74.99  15% off £75 - £124.99  17% off £125– £199.99  20% off over £200

Please show your Friends card. Only available in Millennium Gallery.

Friends Autumn Events 2018

The Tudor Talk and Tour Going Public Thurs 18 Oct , 11am – 12.30pm Thurs Wed 1 Nov, 5pm – 6pm, Millennium Gallery Take a tour of Sheffield Manor Lodge’s Tudor Join Ashley Gallant, Project Curator (Going Turret House. Explore this once great manor built Public), for an exclusive introduction to our new by the Earl of Shrewsbury’s and lived in by Bess of exhibition, Darkness into Light: the Emotional Hardwick and Mary Queen of Scots. Power of Art. The exhibition brings together highlights from three of the UK’s most significant Places for this event are strictly limited, so book private collections, the exhibition will explore art’s early to avoid disappointment. boundless capacity to communicate emotion and affect the way we feel. £6 per person, pre-booking essential Suggested donation £5 To book your place email [email protected] or To book your place email call 0114 278 2610 [email protected] or call 0114 278 2610

Friends Invitation to Upcoming Exhibition Launches Friends are warmly invited to join us at the following exhibition opening receptions. You can find more about the exhibitions listed in our new guide. Please RSVP to Mel Russell: [email protected]

Darkness into Light: The Who We Are: Photographs Wilhelmina Barns Graham: Emotional Power of Art by Martin Jenkinson Sea, Rock, Earth and Ice Wed 24 Oct 2018 Wed 28 Nov 2018, 6–8pm Wed 12 Dec 2018, 6–8pm Weston Park Museum 6–8pm Millennium Gallery Millennium Gallery

Have your vote on new display at Weston Park Museum

Weston Park Museum’s Picturing Sheffield gallery is a celebration of the city, featuring over 60 works presented in the immersive style of a traditional Victorian gallery. It reflects the changing face of Sheffield, from its industrial origins and lost landmarks right through to the familiar views we recognise today. This autumn, Museums Sheffield Friends have the unique opportunity to select a painting to go on display in the gallery in 2019. To vote, pick one of the following four works and email Mel Russell at [email protected] or call 0114 278 2610 with your choice and the reason why you chose it by 5pm Friday 19 October 2018

The Tilt Forge, about 1855 Godfrey Sykes Oil on canvas The men in this dark Sheffield workplace are using giant iron tilt hammers to forge, or shape, steel blades.

View of Sheffield from Sharrow Moor, about 1838 Artist Unknown oil on canvas This portrait of Sheffield shows how the western outskirts of the town looked in around 1838. It was painted from close to Psalter Lane, which is seen in the near foreground, looking over the Porter Valley and Ecclesall Road towards St George’s Church and Wincobank Hill beyond.

Sheffield Iris Office, Hartshead, Sheffield, 1859 Christopher Thomson oil on canvas This is a historic view of the Montgomery Tavern on Hartshead in the centre of Sheffield. The tavern was named after the writer James Montgomery (1771- 1854), who lived here and published the Sheffield Iris newspaper on the premises.

All That Remains, 2013, Mandy Payne aerosol spray paint and oil on concrete tile This is a depiction of part of Sheffield's Park Hill flats. The artist was runner up in the John Ruskin Prize 2014, 'Recording Britain Now', and the work was chosen by Clive Wilmer, Master of the Guild of St. George, to join the Ruskin Collection.