Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection
PRESS RELEASE
May 2022
The National Gallery creates first ‘downloadable’ exhibition as 30 real-life images of its paintings go on display outdoors in Cromer
Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection
2 September 2022 – 30 April 2023
The National Gallery has created the first regional exhibition of replica paintings that can be downloaded for free.
Pictures Around Cromer, The National Gallery Collection (2 September 2022 – 30 April 2023) is an outdoor exhibition across the seaside town of Cromer in Norfolk, comprising of up to 30 life-size replica artworks from the National Gallery Collection.
Following the successful Bigger Picture initiative devised by Cromer Artspace whereby life-size reproductions of great works of art from all over the world were displayed in various outdoor locations around the town of Cromer during lockdown, the facsimiles from the National Gallery Collection will be seen in multiple locations throughout the town accompanied by a label with information about the artwork and a QR code linking to further online resources. Cromer Artspace will also produce a printed guide and map.
The Gallery’s Learning Team will be running a free and exclusive teacher training session for Cromer’s primary schools.
Every year, the National Gallery partners with organisations and audiences across the UK in a range of different and innovative ways to encourage everyone in Britain to engage with their national collection. Great art should enrich the daily life of everyone in Britain today, and over the past three years, the National Gallery has partnered with a large number of organisations of very different scales through a variety of projects. As we continue to develop our programmes we are keen to create new opportunities for access and engagement with people across the UK, in particular those who have the least access to art.
National Gallery Director Dr Gabriele Finaldi said: ‘The work of Cromer Artspace and their Bigger Picture initiative was well received by their local community. We are delighted to be able to deepen our collaboration with Cromer Artspace and to help stage an outdoor exhibition which we hope will bring much delight to visitors and inhabitants of Cromer alike.’
Barry Meadows, Cromer Artspace Trustee, said: ‘As a small charity run entirely by volunteers, we were really pleased with the community feedback on the Bigger Picture with extremely positive support and requests for more of the same. So when the National Gallery suggested a follow-up exhibition,we knew it was a good match for Cromer. Our survey last year highlighted the difficulty people have with the cost and time necessary to visitexhibitionsand we love the idea of the National Gallery coming here to exhibit on our walls.’
The Bigger Picture and the follow up Pictures around Cromer, the National Gallery Collection, are financially supported by North Norfolk District Council, Cromer Town Council and Norfolk County Council as well as many local businesses and individuals.
Organised by Cromer Artspace in collaboration with the National Gallery, London
nationalgallery.org.uk cromer-artspace.uk
