Lottery Success For Treasure Houses John Champney Celebration
The gifts of John Champney to the town of Beverley will be celebrated in 2010 thanks to a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
An award of £42,000 to the Treasure House will allow East Riding of Yorkshire Council’s archives and local studies and museum services to hold a programme of events and activities to mark the centenary of the opening of the Beverley Art Gallery in 1910.
John Champney was an important local benefactor to his home town, Beverley. He funded the Beverley Public Library and Art Gallery building, which opened in 1906 with the Art Gallery opening in 1910. He also funded the site and building of the extension to the library and art gallery in 1928. On his death in 1929 John Champney also donated important collections of books and paintings to Beverley Borough Council. He was made an honorary freeman of the town in 1906.
The grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund will enable the Treasure House to hold a major exhibition in the Treasure House next summer about John Champney and his contribution to Beverley. The exhibition will feature paintings and books that he donated to the town. There will be a publication and a series of talks and events linked to the exhibition. Another part of the grant will be used to restore a portrait of John Champney in Beverley Art Gallery and to repair some of the books. A catalogue of the book collection will be made available online.
Councillor Jane Evison, portfolio holder for cultural services, housing and public protection said: “The Treasure House has become an important part of Beverley and we are proud to have been able to make John Champney’s dream a reality. The events planned for next summer will be informative and I am sure of great interest to many people. We are grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund for providing the grant funding to make it possible”
Archives and local studies manager, Ian Mason, said “We are delighted to receive this award from the Heritage Lottery Fund. The centenary of the opening of the art gallery provides a wonderful opportunity to make people aware of John Champney’s contribution to the town. In the early 20th century he had the idea for a joint library, reading room, art gallery and museum. This celebration will enable us to show how the Treasure House building has helped to develop and fulfil his vision 100 years later.”
Fiona Spiers, Head of HLF, Yorkshire and the Humber Region, said “We are thrilled to help open up the local heritage of Beverley and its interesting collections for everyone to explore and learn about. This fantastic project will really help bring the Treasure House’s John Champney collection to life for locals and visitors.”
