The Julia Margaret Cameron Trust, of Dimbola Museum and Galleries, are delighted to announce that they have been awarded £41,670 from the Arts Council’s Emergency Resource Support Fund.
This grant money will ensure that Dimbola, the former home of Julia Margaret Cameron, will be open and ready for the new season, able to host workshops and other educational and entertaining events, and continue to be a valuable asset to the local, national and international community.
What it’ll be used for
Funds have been allocated to employ essential staff, and making improvements to the shop, library, darkroom and front hallway.
They will be upgrading their collections of historic cameras, and a London academic will be revamping the Julia Margaret Cameron galleries to make them more interestingly themed for visitors, and to refresh the current chronology.
Hinton: Pandemic severely depleted our funds and our income
Executive Chair, Brian Hinton, said,
“The pandemic severely depleted our funds and our income, and this grant from the Arts Council has been absolutely wonderful news for us.
“The essential improvements and staff appointments that this will be funding, shall ‘future-proof’ us, and enable an enhanced offering to our visitors and clientele.”
Bell: Courage is answered by generosity
Julian Bell, President of Dimbola and Julia Margaret Cameron’s great-great-great nephew said,
“There are not many win-win outcomes in the news today – but here’s one to celebrate.
“A feisty imaginative independent in the museum world keeps its head above water through two horrendous years: the people who look after our arts nationally throw it not just a lifebelt, but the warm and welcome shelter of extra staffing and a property upgrade.
“Courage is answered by generosity, and for once, we can truly all feel good!”
Exhibitions
A new exhibition, Creative Cross Currents, celebrating Julia Margaret Cameron’s Indian heritage, which has been funded with separate Arts Council Grant, opened on March 26th in the Olympus Gallery and runs until 5th June 2022.
Dimbola hosts a permanent exhibition to Julia Margaret Cameron, and her pioneering photographic work, along with a permanent exhibition to the Isle of Wight Festivals – 1968 to 1970 and 2002 to the present day.
Opening times
The museum is open Tues-Sat 10am-4pm and Sun 11am-3pm.
The Tearoom is open daily 10am-5pm.
See the Website for more detail.
News shared by Jo on behalf of Dimbola Museum and Galleries. Ed
