Arts Council Touring of Young Contemporaries, 1949 – 1968
From the very first exhibition of Young Contemporaries in 1949 until the end of the 1960s the Arts Council of Great Britain organised a smaller selection of work (approx. 30 to 50 from the 300 to 500 shown in the London exhibition) to tour venues across the UK.
This was part of a larger overall strategy developed by the Arts Council of Great Britain to expand access to the arts outside of London. The Arts Council tour of the Young Contemporaries also offered further support to the selected artists beyond the public platform through the specific promotion of the works for sale - “here is an opportunity to buy a picture or print by a living artist for the home and at the same time to support this courageous venture” - and through paying touring fees. As one artist writes, the touring fees, at times, were the very real difference between ‘being able to eat or not’, as the participating artists began their journey from art student to professional artist.
Touring 1949
Venues – Batley Art Gallery Manchester School of Art Cambridge Country Girls School Chatham Public Library
Participants – Eugenie Alexander Dick Jordan Kenneth Bale F.D. Kermode Bayly Clifford Alice Lambe Paul Beck Elizabeth Leary Eileen Bell Nancy Mellor John Bennet R.H. Middle-Brook Pamela Chard E.C. Middleditch Bernard Cheese Jeffrey North H.R. Cox Richard Platt Stephen Crowther L. Renton Jane Dowling Ian Ribbons S.K. East Francois Roux Marian N. Fowler Julia Rushby Ivor Fox Duncan Smith Donald Hamilton Fraser Ronald Storr Muriel George Charles White Daphne Henke Pamela Wilson Lawrence Hill J.A. Wykeham-Simons R/ Hunt Jane Vesty Albert Irvin
1949
Touring 1950
Venues – Edinburgh College of Art Geffrye Museum, London Malvern Public Library Hove Art Gallery
Participants – T.M. Acheson F.B.H. Laubscher R Martin Baillie Catherine Maciver John E. Blake Muriel Mallin B. Bradshaw Christopher Mason Brenda Brooker E.C. Middleditch William Broom Derek Mynott Chloe Brown E. Irving Nicholson L.C. Burnaud Ian Ribbons John L. Burningham Gordon Richards Peter G. Coker Doreen E. Roberts Eve Coxeter John Roberts Cumming Cumming Anthony Rossiter Mary C. Davies J.F. Sedgwick E.M. Dunn Alan Partridge Smith Peter Exell Marion Jean Sparks Jean Olive Fenn Jacqueline Stanley Donald Hamilton Fraser Leonard Thiessen Bernard Gay William Thomson William Hewison Marjorie Wallace Robert Hunt Evelyn Williams R. Jewell
1950 Touring 1951
Venues – Unknown
Participants – Norman Adams Yvonneka Jones C.J. Alexander Peter Kinley John Arnup Bruce Lacey Roger Bennett John Leech J.H.M. Burr E.J. Lloyd Charles Burton George Manchester John Carswell Christopher Mason Alfred Daniels Renate Meyer Ronald Davies Peter Midgley Violet Day Daphne Mitchell Lore Fish Frederick Packer Donald Hamilton Fraser John Sellers Michael Fussell Jacqueline Stanley Valerie Gage Bill Thomson Peter John Garrad John Titchell Ann Giffard George Tucker D. Graham Barbara Turner Dennis Hawkins Frances Walker A.C. Herbert Frances Watt John Hersey Jillian Willett Derek Hirst Margaret Wilson Susan Horsefield F.J. Yates R.S. Jewry
1951 Touring 1952
Venues – Llandudno Museum & Public Library Birmingham College of Arts & Crafts Geffrye Museum, London Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Nuneaton Museum & Art Gallery Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea
Participants – M.J. Adams Marion Jowett Ralph Allen S.J. Kiff John Arnup Bruce Lacey Anthony Barson Judith Lewis Denise Bates P Lipscombe Robert T. Blayney E.C. Middleditch Barbara Braithwaite Peter Midgley Raymond R Briggs Bryan Milner Keith Clements Margaret Neve Christine Coghill R. Organ E.R. Doelly Richard Platt Felise R. Dumas David Pool N.A. Flower Alan Price Donald Hamilton Fraser Frank Robinson T.F. Gibbs Joan Schofield Ronald Glendening Sabina J. Schweitzer Derrick Greaves James Sellers William Hartwell A.H. Taylor Francis Hewlett George Tuckwell Roland Jarvis Stewart J. Waghorn Aubrey S. Jensen E. Nora & G. Wilson Frank W. Johnson Frederick J. Yates Patricia Johnson
1952 Touring 1953
Venues – Folkstone Museum & Art Gallery Homerton College Peterborough Museum Norwich School of Art
Participants – William Belcher Myles Murphy Susan Benson Margaret Neve Basil Blackshaw Jean Nicoll Shirley Bowman Anthea Oswell John Bratby Christine Parsons J. Burr John Arthur Pelling A.J. China Robin Rae Bernard Cohen Anne Rooke Mary D. Cole John Sewell John Frederick Cooper M.E. Seymour George Crawford Jack Smith Diana Cumming Gordon Snee Rosalind Dease Peter Snow Vernon Gibberd Terry Stockbridge Henry Haig T.J.H. Streathfield Christopher Hall Margaret Summerfield David Maxwell Hide Philip Sutton Sheila F. Jackson A.H. Taylor Valerie Johnson Neil R. Thwaites Phil Kennedy Gordon Ward Daphne Leeder P.M. Weston George Manchester Norah Wilson Shirley Moodey John Wood
1953 Touring 1954
Venues – Unknown
Participants – Craig Aitchinson Anthea Oswell Adrian Bailey Judy Anne Pearsall Elizabeth Blackadder John Pipe John Bratby Mike Pope Jean Cooke Shirley Quantick Edward Dicks C.R. Reason Keith Grant Brian Rees Frederick Fairer Angela Rimmer Christopher Hall Eric Ritchie David Hide E.A. Simson Richard Hore Gordon Snee Caroline James Peter Snow Pamela Lloyed Anthony C. Tice Audrey Melville Tania Tovey Patricia Milbank Helen Whiteford Jean Nicoll Gerald Whnybrow Sam J. Ntiro John Horwill
1954
Touring 1955
Venues – 9 provincial centres in England & Scotland Venue locations unknown
Participants – Sally Arnup A. J. Messenger Frank Auerbach Patricia Miller Judith De Beer Elmore M. Morgan Roy Bizley Sam J. Ntiro John P. Busby John S. Paice Thomson Samuel Cameron Shirley Pond William Connerlly J.E.C. Price Ronald M. Coote Lucy A. Ranson Anthony Daniels Margaret J. Rees Paul Deggan Paula Rego Juliet Draco Angela Rimmer Molly Duchesne Maureen Roffey Margaret Evans Russell T. Roofe Malcolm John Evans Gordon Snee Patricia Gerrard Robert D. Stokle Christopher Hall David M. Storey Michael J. Hart Michael Tyzack Peter Howitt Susan Ward A.K. Humphries Helen Whiteford Douglas James Alan Windsor Philip Jones Alan Windsor Caroline Kirwan-Taylor Margaret Wood Edwina Leapman G. J. Wootton Pamela Lloyd
1955 Touring 1956
In 1956 the organisation of the Young Contemporaries was delayed, and subsequently they lost out on their regular venue at R.B.A. Galleries in Suffolk Street. It was decided to suspend the exhibition until early 1957, with the consequence that there was no Arts Council tour of Young Contemporaries work during 1956.
1956 Touring 1957
Venues – Norwich Assembly House Folkstone Museum & Art Gallery Duncan Institute, Cupar Gracefield Art Centre, Dumfries National Museum of Wales Manchester City Art Gallery
Participants – Keith Armour Joanna Kent Jeremy Baines Pamela Lloyd Valerie Bloomfield Pamela Lloyd Susanna Bott Roderick Maude-Roxby Kenneth Brazier A.J. Messenger John Brunsdon Sarah Morison Brian Burgess Rosemay Phipps Carol Burns Shirley Pond John Cole Jennifer Rees Ronald Mark Coote Janet Rheinberg T. J. Davies Harry Riley Margaret Dennis Jeffrey Rogers Ivan Dodd Evelyn Rowland J. R. Ellis Michael Sandle Margaret Evans Bartolomeo Dos Santos Valerie Fabian James Harrison Smith Ian Fraser Carolyn Stafford Frederick Fuchs Jacqueline Stieger Alan Michael Green John Sunderland Albert Lawrence Hammonds James Tiley Derek Holland Anthony John Turner Gerald Hunt Gillian M. Turner Derek J. Hyatt D. H. Wales Christina F. James Ralph Wardle Charlotte Jennings G.L. Wright Magda Kapelner-Ostrowska W. A. F. Wright
1957 Touring 1958
Venues – Birmingham College of Arts & Crafts Blackburn Art Gallery Keighley Museum Cambridge Art Gallery Mansfield Museum
Participants – Raymond Frank Ambrose Gerald Levene Margaret Baker Geoffrey Machin Philip Barff Anne Martin Elizabeth Bressington Robin Mayor Carol Burns Dorothy Mead Michael Clark Anthony Messenger Helen Dear Carl Nordal Peter Denny Brian Peacock Mario Dubsky Raymond Pearson John England Rosemary Phipps Raymond Fawcett Robin John Plumber Brian Fielding John Rich Caroline Finer Michael Sandle John Flemons Michael Seymour Noel Armstrong Forster Anthony Sigrist John Furnival Ian Simpson Maureen Goodwin Yolanda Sonnabend Terence Cecil Gravett Patricia Sullivan David Heathcote Donald Geoffrey Womack James Kenneth Howard Alexander John Wyse Charlotte Jennings Marjorie A. Yemm Terry Lee Brian Young
1958 Touring 1959
Venues – Cambridge Art Gallery Blackburn Art Gallery Powysland Museum Maidstone Museum
Participants – Basil Beattie Jill Lovett Wendy Benka Terry Marner Sarah Best Paul McDowell Graham Bevan Dorothy Mead Stuart Brisley Brian Morley Dennis Creffield David Parkinson Ivor Davies James Rae Mario Dubsky Colin Ruffell Stuart Durant Michael Sandle Brian Elwell Robert Scruton Raymond Fawcett Terence Setch Peter Freeth Max Shepherd John Gentry Michael Simpson Anthony Green David Spiller Thomas Hastings Ian Stephenson Leonard Hollman Norman Stevens David Humphreys Mary Stork Mary Knott Marc Vaux Sonia Lawson Barry Ward Carl Lazzari Wendy Yeo Gerald Levene
1959 Touring 1960 – Unknown
1960 Touring 1961 – Unknown
1961 Touring 1962
Venues – Cambridge Art Gallery Ferens Art Gallery Glynn Vivian Art Gallery Birmingham College of Arts & Crafts Laing Art Gallery
Participants – David Atkins David Hockney David Banks George Bryan Ingham Barrie Bates Peter Jones Derek Boshier John Locker Frank Bowling Malcolm MacLeod John Bowstead Malcolm MacLeod Ken Brazier David Oxtoby Patrick J. Caulfield Stan Peskett Ian Colverson Peter Philips Roger Cook Patrick Procktor Anthony Donaldson James M. Scott Reg Fisher Jon Thompson Michael Foreman Michael Upton Eric Gibson Michael Vaughan Neville Green Brian White Trevor Halliday
1962 Touring 1963
Venues – Cambridge Art Gallery Ferens Art Gallery Midland Group Gallery Towner Art Gallery Bradford Art Gallery
Participants – David Arnold Brian Love Laurie Baldwyn Clive Miller David Banks Brian Mills John Bowstead David Milne P. N. Darrah-Fraser Annabelle Nicholls Patricia Dombey David Oxtoby Eric Gibson Stanley Peskett Geoffrey Grant Gerry Santos-Shaw Trevor Halliday Conrad Simpson Jann Haworth Michael Simpson John Howlin Alan Uglow Bryan Ingham Michael Vaughan Roger Jeffs Alan Welsford Bernard Jennings David Whittaker Paul Kashdan Paul Wilks Josef Keys J. Haydon Williams Edward Lister Carol Wright John Locker
1963 Touring 1964
Venues – Southampton City Art Gallery Cambridge Art Gallery Mercer Art Gallery, Harrowgate Plymouth City Museum & Art Gallery
Participants – Laurence Anthony David Leverett Douglas Binder Peter Millband Eleanor Brady Clive Miller David Burlumi David Milne David Cashman Stephen McKenna Ian Chance Tom Phillips Andrzej Dlugosz Michael Rudston Eric Gadsby Geoff Sansbury Sally Hallam Gordon Scott Hart Roy Brian Holt Anthony John Smart George Bryan Ingham Helen Snowdon Mak Kum-Siew R. Westwood Gerald Laing Laetitia Karoline Yhap
1964 Touring 1965 Venues – Cambridge Art Gallery Ferens Art Gallery Falmouth Art Gallery The New Art Gallery Walsall Bristol Museum & Art Gallery David Leverett B. Llewellyn-Jones Participants – Brian Love Alison Armstrong Roy Marsden Philip Beard Derek Mayer Margaret Benyon Charles Meredith Stuart Berkeley Peter Millband Lindsey Blyth Alan Miller Victor Burgin Andrea Moering Donald Cordery David Parsons Roger Dade Lawrence Peters Karen Farley Alison Plackett Michael Fletcher Geoffrey Rigden Maurice Henderson Anthony Riley Roy Brian Holt Michael Rooney Terence Ibbott David Skelton David Jones Richard Turner Sarah Kent Alan Uglow Mak Kum-Siew David Whitaker Michael Lawson
1965 Touring 1966
Venues – Folkstone Museum & Art Gallery Cambridge Art Gallery New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester Durham Edinburgh College of Art
Participants – Julia Atkinson Maureen Murphy Margaret Benyon Fabian Peake Richard Chesterman Roger Powell Ann Clarke Edward Richardson David Codling Geoff Rigden Malcolm Dakin Rosemary Rogers John Fox Mick Rooney Fiona French Miriam Smith Heather Gadsby Harry Snook Pamela Hutchinson Michael Stanley David Inshaw Richard Stone Michael Kennedy Celestino Valenti Mak Kum-Siew David Whitaker Brian Love Adam White John Macleod
1966 Touring 1967
Venues – Huddersfield Art Gallery Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle Ferens Art Gallery, Hull Gracefield Art Centre, Dumfries Turner House Gallery, Penarth
Participants – Mary A. Cooper James Lowe David Corrie Jamie McCullough William J. Furlong Peter Muschamp Lloyd Gibson Anton Nickson Graham Gilchrist David Price Gerard Hemsworth R. W. Rosser Alan Holt Graham Tazzyman Eilean R. Hooper-Greenhill S. E. Tickner Michael Derek Jarman Martin Ward Ken Kitchen Peter Wright Mak Kum-Siew Franklin Wilson
1967 Touring 1968
Venues – York Art Gallery University of Nottingham Stratford College of Art National Museum of Wales Bristol Art Gallery University of Reading
Participants – Leslie Ayres Trevor Jones Christine Beattie Terence Kester Keith Brocklehurst Peter Logan Nigel Bull Richard Marshall Colin Crumplin Brendan Neiland Alan Deboo Brendan Neiland Nigel Edwards Gerald Newman John Evans Malcolm Plastow Michael Ginsborg David Prickett Jonathan Goddard Gordon Richardson David Whaley-Hallows Edwin Roberts Michael Hamilton Bruce Russell Terence Llott Alexander Thompson Michael Ingram
The touring schedule for 1968 extends into early 1969, after which there are no further records of the Arts Council touring a Young Contemporaries selection, and in 1970/71 the last Young Contemporaries exhibition takes place at the Royal Academy in London.
In 1974 the programme relaunches as New Contemporaries and for the next twelve years exhibits in venues across London, including Camden Art Centre, Royal Academy, ACME Gallery, and ICA.
In 1989 New Contemporaries becomes an incorporated organisation and resumes the ethos of touring work outside of London. This time the exhibition launches in a different city each year before a further viewing in London – a format that continues to this day.
1968