The AHRC offices in central Bristol were opened to the public on Saturday as part of Bristol’s Open Doors Day when many of Bristol’s significant contemporary and historic buildings open their doors to the general public. More than 300 visitors came to the AHRC offices attracted by a collection of over 40 paintings which make up the CNAA Art Collection and which are displayed at the AHRC offices on loan.
The collection presents a snapshot of the period 1969-1974 when British art was pre-eminent in Europe and when artists were experimenting with new materials and bold colours. Artists represented in the collection include Anthony Green, Bridget Riley, Victor Pasmore, David Hockney and Patrick Caulfield.
AHRC volunteers were on hand to guide visitors around the paintings which are located in a variety of offices in the Whitefriars office block where the AHRC is based.
For further information on the CNAA Art Collection can be found on the CNAA website.
If you would like to arrange a private view of the art collection please contact Ted Mackenzie, 0117 987 6500.
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About Arts and Humanities Research Council: Each year the AHRC provides approximately £102 million from the Government to support research and postgraduate study in the arts and humanities, from languages and law, archaeology and English literature to design and creative and performing arts. In any one year, the AHRC makes approximately 700 research awards and around 1,350 postgraduate awards. Awards are made after a rigorous peer review process, to ensure that only applications of the highest quality are funded. Arts and humanities researchers constitute over a quarter of all research-active staff in the higher education sector. The quality and range of research supported by this investment of public funds not only provides social and cultural benefits but also contributes to the economic success of the UK.
About CNAA Art Collection: In 1974 the body responsible for the validation of almost all art and design degree-level courses in the UK - the National Council for Diplomas in Art and Design (NCDAD)- decided that responsibility should pass to the Council for National Academic Awards (CNAA). NCDAD passed on not only its validation work but also purchased a collection of paintings, sculptures and fine prints, which it gifted to the CNAA. In 1992 the government dissolved the CNAA, but the Chief Executive, Dr. Malcolm Frazer, who had taken a personal interest in ensuring the survival of the collection, oversaw the establishment of a CNAA Art Collection Trust. At the time of the establishment of the National Fine Art Education Digital Collection the Chairman of the Trust is Sir Michael Bichard, KCB, the Trust Secretary is Lady Nixon and the Curator is Stroud Cornock.