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In 2013 Fylde DFAS (operating as The Arts Society Fylde from 17 May 2017), a local arts education society, received a grant of £24,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund. In partnership with the Friends of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection they embarked on a venture called ‘Tagging the Treasures’. The aim of the project was to research artists, artworks and donors of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection in order to produce both an online and a printed catalogue, thus making images and information about the Collection fully accessible for the first time. The aim was to inform and create awareness of the Collection and its importance to local culture and heritage.
Volunteers were recruited from our diverse community and were given the opportunity to receive training, visit museums and art galleries and study books, websites and records, including Council Minutes, to research clues about donations. Unfortunately, many artefacts that are mentioned in the Council Minutes can no longer be found in the Collection. Add to this some generous lending practices in the mid-twentieth century plus a lack of suitable storage space, and you begin to get a picture of the challenge that researching this Collection presented.
One large drawback was that the researchers did not have access to the artworks as they are mostly in storage or hung in the Town Hall. Fortunately, in 2012 the Public Catalogue Foundation, now known as Art UK, had photographed the oil paintings which enabled A4 laminated images to be produced allowing research to begin; other artworks were photographed at a later date.
There was a clear line of communication with the public bodies involved in managing and making decisions about the Collection. Project visibility was important to recruit volunteers and raise public awareness; partners and interested groups were identified. Most important amongst the partners was The Friends as they shared many of the same objectives. Posters were designed and flyers distributed at talks, lectures and displays and community events. Promotional articles were placed in local society and group newsletters.
A user-friendly, dedicated website was created to host the online cataloguewhich provided immediate access to the research; we also used social media.
Volunteers working at home came together at monthly coffee mornings to share useful resources and discuss problems encountered. They were given a clear understanding of the project’s aims, objectives and how they could contribute providing them with an opportunity to help shape the project by volunteering for various roles.
A whole series of training courses, research events and tools were made available which also led to an understanding and appreciation of conservation and the work of the Museum Service. Volunteers learnt how to research aspects of museum curatorial skills in order to promote care for the Collection and present exhibitions.
Researchers were very passionate about the project and would discuss it with everyone willing to listen, including local radio stations. The local press was also very supportive, publishing articles on a regular basis. Throughout display boards were taken to numerous locations, open days and roadshows, which enabled us to recruit and talk to members of the community. The team also took part in the annual Heritage Open Days held at the Town Hall. This gave volunteers the opportunity to facilitate and guide visitors around works of art that are not normally accessible to the public, thus utilising their growing expertise in informing and inspiring the community. Presentations were given to over 2000 local people to raise awareness and recruit volunteers.
Free lectures were further opportunities to display and publicise the project: The Origins of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection and Mud, Manure & the Silk Road by Heather Davis and Substance and Shadow: Victorian Art and Society by Michael Howard . Open to the public, these popular lectures generated further enthusiasm and support.
Three exhibitions were presented at the Fylde Gallery, Booths food, wine and grocery Store, Lytham: Images of Summer, The Art of Travel and The Art of Giving, 90th Anniversary of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection. This last exhibition focused on the donors and the act of philanthropy. In addition, the works were accompanied by a degree of historical context by highlighting what else was going on in Lytham St Annes when they were donated. This exhibition was unique in that it was the first exhibition that had been completely curated by volunteers, although the Museum Service was still on hand to advise and build the exhibition as insurance was prohibitive.
This project has increased awareness of our town’s Collection and how it forms an integral part of local heritage, the importance of access, storage, conservation and its potential for future education and scholarship. A range of information about the Collection is now in the public domain in the form of a comprehensive online catalogue and a printed catalogue which was revised in 2023.
Jacqueline Love (nee Arundel)
Tagging the Treasures
Project Manager Click Here to see detailed Evaluation Report
“I have been astounded at the success of the Tagging the Treasures Project created by the Fylde Decorative and Fine Arts Society. I heartily congratulate everyone who has been part of it.
I created the Friends to raise awareness of the Collection and to raise funds for its conservation. The TTT Project has meant that awareness has increased exponentially and I believe a new army of people has emerged who value this, our heritage, and want to make it available. The Friends will continue to work for the Collection and support any efforts to further its promotion and maintenance.” Margaret Race – Chair of the Friends of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection
Volunteers were recruited from our diverse community and were given the opportunity to receive training, visit museums and art galleries and study books, websites and records, including Council Minutes, to research clues about donations. Unfortunately, many artefacts that are mentioned in the Council Minutes can no longer be found in the Collection. Add to this some generous lending practices in the mid-twentieth century plus a lack of suitable storage space, and you begin to get a picture of the challenge that researching this Collection presented.
One large drawback was that the researchers did not have access to the artworks as they are mostly in storage or hung in the Town Hall. Fortunately, in 2012 the Public Catalogue Foundation, now known as Art UK, had photographed the oil paintings which enabled A4 laminated images to be produced allowing research to begin; other artworks were photographed at a later date.
There was a clear line of communication with the public bodies involved in managing and making decisions about the Collection. Project visibility was important to recruit volunteers and raise public awareness; partners and interested groups were identified. Most important amongst the partners was The Friends as they shared many of the same objectives. Posters were designed and flyers distributed at talks, lectures and displays and community events. Promotional articles were placed in local society and group newsletters.
A user-friendly, dedicated website was created to host the online cataloguewhich provided immediate access to the research; we also used social media.
Volunteers working at home came together at monthly coffee mornings to share useful resources and discuss problems encountered. They were given a clear understanding of the project’s aims, objectives and how they could contribute providing them with an opportunity to help shape the project by volunteering for various roles.
A whole series of training courses, research events and tools were made available which also led to an understanding and appreciation of conservation and the work of the Museum Service. Volunteers learnt how to research aspects of museum curatorial skills in order to promote care for the Collection and present exhibitions.
Researchers were very passionate about the project and would discuss it with everyone willing to listen, including local radio stations. The local press was also very supportive, publishing articles on a regular basis. Throughout display boards were taken to numerous locations, open days and roadshows, which enabled us to recruit and talk to members of the community. The team also took part in the annual Heritage Open Days held at the Town Hall. This gave volunteers the opportunity to facilitate and guide visitors around works of art that are not normally accessible to the public, thus utilising their growing expertise in informing and inspiring the community. Presentations were given to over 2000 local people to raise awareness and recruit volunteers.
Free lectures were further opportunities to display and publicise the project: The Origins of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection and Mud, Manure & the Silk Road by Heather Davis and Substance and Shadow: Victorian Art and Society by Michael Howard . Open to the public, these popular lectures generated further enthusiasm and support.
Three exhibitions were presented at the Fylde Gallery, Booths food, wine and grocery Store, Lytham: Images of Summer, The Art of Travel and The Art of Giving, 90th Anniversary of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection. This last exhibition focused on the donors and the act of philanthropy. In addition, the works were accompanied by a degree of historical context by highlighting what else was going on in Lytham St Annes when they were donated. This exhibition was unique in that it was the first exhibition that had been completely curated by volunteers, although the Museum Service was still on hand to advise and build the exhibition as insurance was prohibitive.
This project has increased awareness of our town’s Collection and how it forms an integral part of local heritage, the importance of access, storage, conservation and its potential for future education and scholarship. A range of information about the Collection is now in the public domain in the form of a comprehensive online catalogue and a printed catalogue which was revised in 2023.
Jacqueline Love (nee Arundel)
Tagging the Treasures
Project Manager Click Here to see detailed Evaluation Report
“I have been astounded at the success of the Tagging the Treasures Project created by the Fylde Decorative and Fine Arts Society. I heartily congratulate everyone who has been part of it.
I created the Friends to raise awareness of the Collection and to raise funds for its conservation. The TTT Project has meant that awareness has increased exponentially and I believe a new army of people has emerged who value this, our heritage, and want to make it available. The Friends will continue to work for the Collection and support any efforts to further its promotion and maintenance.” Margaret Race – Chair of the Friends of the Lytham St Annes Art Collection
