Lakeland Arts partners with Art UK to make its collection accessible to more people. Over 4,000 photographic prints by Joseph Hardman have been added to the Art UK site and shop, helping to expand the range of artwork available on the platform.
Taken between the 1930s and 1960s Hardman’s black and white photographs capture a bygone era. He recorded the traditions of rural life in the Lake District, Cumbria, depicting ways of life that rapidly changed or disappeared during the second half of the 20th century.
The photographs join highlights from Lakeland Arts’ oil on canvas collection including Flight by Kurt Schwitters, Still Life with Tulips and Oranges by Samuel John Peploe and Belle Isle, Windermere, in a Calm by Philip James de Loutherbourg.
Art UK is the online home for every public art collection in the UK such asNational Portrait Gallery, Royal Scottish Academy of Art & Architecture, Manchester Art Gallery, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery and theLowry Collection. It offers a searchable database of images for enjoyment, learning and research, plus an online shop providing on-demand print and framing service of artworks. It has recently expanded into all art forms including photography and sculpture.
The Hardman photographs are part of the extensive collection of art, boats, ceramics, and local history looked after by heritage charity Lakeland Arts through its venues Abbot Hall, Blackwell – the Arts & Crafts house, Lakeland Museum and Windermere Jetty Museum.
Caroline Robinson Head of Innovation and Business Development at Lakeland Artscomments, “We’re so pleased to be increasing digital access to more of our collection with the brilliant support of our partners, Art UK. Their easy-to-use art print service is of the highest quality and is accompanied by searchable information about the work and the artists. It means that people can bring beautiful artworks into their own homes to be enjoyed, whilst also supporting us as a charity to look after our collections. These prints will make a lovely gift for an art lover, so we are especially excited to launch our bespoke shop in time for Christmas.”
Andrew Ellis, Director of Art UK, says: “We are delighted to see Lakeland Arts show more of their artworks on ArtUK.org with the addition of the Joseph Hardman collection. At Art UK, we are enthusiastic about having expanded our remit to include fine art photography and other important photographic collections. We have been thrilled to see our collection partners begin to make their photographic collections available to the public for research, learning and enjoyment as often these collections are overlooked and underestimated. These collections provide a wealth of socio-historical information, and the extensive Joseph Hardman collection is a wonderful example of this.”
Camilla Stewart, Head of Commercial Programmes and Collection Partnerships at Art UK, says: “Art UK is proud to offer a unique opportunity for museums and galleries to collectively sell prints and products from one platform, generating much needed income for these collections. It is wonderful to see Lakeland Arts join with these evocative photographs. The Art UK shop offers its prints with hand-made frames produced in workshops from a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning that Christmas shoppers can choose a sustainable and positive gift.”
For art lovers, students and teachers it’s easy to find out more about many of the artists and works of art held in the significant Lakeland Arts collection, and to browse the available prints in the Art UK shop artuk.org/shop/LakelandArts.
Sheep in Allhallows Lane in Kendal by Joseph Hardman_Photo credit Lakeland Arts.