Sliding Water

Friends of York Art Gallery

Artists, Makers and Friends

Exhibition

November 6,7, 8 and 12,13,14,15th November 2025  -  12pm to 4pm

or by appointment

The Friends of York Art Gallery was founded in 1948 as a charitable organisation and is the oldest such group in the United Kingdom. Its objectives are simple; to help the development of the Gallery in all ways possible, to establish a vigorous circle of supporters, and to promote the appreciation of the fine arts in York and the surrounding area. Membership has now reached a thriving 900.

In pursuit of our educational mission, the Friends promote the arts by organising gallery talks and lectures, together with visits to cultural jewels across Britain and even abroad. Over the decades since 1948, the Friends have helped the Gallery to acquire numerous works of art of all periods from the Middle Ages to the present day, comprising paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture, and ceramics. These include such precious, well-loved works as David Hockney’s Egyptian Head Disappearing into Descending Clouds; Allan Ramsay’s Portrait of Jean Abercrombie; and William Etty’s Preparing for a Fancy Dress Ball (pictured above). More recently the Friends acquired Dame Laura Knight’s Early Morning in a Gypsy Camp, raising around £140,000 to do so. In addition, we regularly fund essential conservation work, notably including in 2018 the restoration into full working order of the 18th-century automaton clock, attributed to James Cox (the maker of the famous silverswan in the Bowes Museum), now installed in the Burton Gallery.

An annual subscription to the Friends of York Art Gallery costs £30 for single and £45 for joint membership. Benefits include free entry both to the permanent collection and all exhibitions at York Art Gallery together with invitations to exclusive previews of major exhibits as well as a wealth of talks and activities.

All funds raised from our exhibition Artists, Makers and Friends at Sliding Water will be used directly to support the Gallery where works of visual art help provide solace, inspiration, recreation, insight, and an experience of beauty for all in York

Find out more at www.friendsofyorkartgallery.co.uk. And do join us

click here to see details of the exhibition