Southampton City Art Gallery to Digitize Seldom-Seen Paper Art Collection

To preserve its collection, Southampton City Art Gallery plans to make hundreds of art pieces accessible online. Although most oil paintings and sculptures at the gallery have already been digitized, its collection of paper artwork has not yet been electronically mapped. Approximately 1,000 pictures from the collection will be digitally recorded, a process supported by a £26,000 grant from Arts Council England. These paper works are infrequently displayed because of their light-sensitive characteristics, and there is presently no public catalogue or comprehensive listing available for them. Lorna Fielker, leader of Southampton City Council, expressed that the authority was “thrilled” to have received the grant. She further stated, “Culture is fundamental to shaping our vision of this wonderful city, and we need to keep investing in our nationally important cultural assets to increase public access.” Phil Gibby from Arts Council England commented, “We know museums and galleries provide a vital space for the public to discover the past, engage with the present, and imagine new possibilities for the future.” He also added, “The same is true online and once digitised, each work will be preserved for both local and international audiences to enjoy.” The project, conducted in partnership with Southampton Solent University, is expected to conclude by early 2026. Its completion is set to coincide with the conclusion of refurbishment works at the gallery. It is anticipated that the digitized images will serve to uphold the gallery’s visibility, with virtual exhibitions planned for its website. Information regarding BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight’s presence on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram is available. Copyright for this material is held by BBC, 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC states it is not responsible for the content of external sites and provides details on its approach to external linking.