On Friday 16th October, Angela Richardson, MP for Guildford visited the Watts Gallery, Artists' Village in Guildford. Angela was welcomed by Alistair Burtenshaw, Director of the Watts Gallery and taken on a tour of gallery and grounds.
The Watts Gallery was founded in 1904, as the only gallery in the UK devoted to a single artist. Watts Gallery – Artists' Village offers a unique insight into the life and work of G F Watts and his wife, the designer and artist Mary Watts. The Artists' Village carries on the Watts' legacy of 'Art for All' with its historic and contemporary galleries, working Artist in Residence and conservation studios and an extensive learning programme.
Angela Richardson MP’s visit to the Watts Gallery, ties in with a recent Government announcement of £1.57 billion in support to help protect the UK’s culture and heritage sectors from the impact of Covid-19. Arts Council England is administering up to £500m in grants, and up to £270m in repayable finance. The Watts Gallery is one of four local beneficiaries of these grants with funding in Guildford amounting to £827,495.
Angela Richardson MP said: “It was fantastic to meet Alistair Burtenshaw, Director of the Watts Gallery. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and tour of the gallery and grounds. The Watts Gallery is a real community asset.
“Therefore, I am so pleased that funding has been awarded to the Guildford constituency as part of the very first round of announcements on the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund Grants programme, being administered by the Arts Council.”