The customarj' three Exhibitions have been held during the year. 

 The Autumn and Spring Exhibitions were on the usual lines, and on 

 each occasion a good representative collection of modern pictures, in 

 both oil and water-colours, was obtained, and the sales were in advance 

 of those of the previous year. The Association of Professional Photo- 

 graphers held their Annual Exhibition in the Gallery for the first few 

 weeks of the Summer Exhibition, and for the remainder of the time 

 only the lower gallery was open. A great attraction there towards the 

 close of the time, was the Casket presented by the Corporation to Lord 

 Curzon of Kedleston, to whom the warm thanks of the Committee are 

 due for the loan. 



The Exhibition now open commenced on October 20th, and is 

 likely to prove a very popular one, and the pictures exhibited are quite 

 up to the usual mark ; while those recently received as a bequest add 

 much to the attractiveness of the Gallery. 



The building is in a state of thorough repair, and very little has 

 had to be expended upon it during the year. The sum to be asked for 

 from the Council is more than a hundred pounds less than last year. 

 Collection, Carriage and Insurance expenses are slightly larger, but the 

 wages account is about the same, repairs and alterations are much less, 

 and the Committee have been able also to reduce the Establishment 

 charges. The total cost of the Art Gallery during the year amounts to 

 about one-sixth of a penny. During the twenty-two years of its exist- 

 ence the annual average charge has been £:ioy iis. 2d. 



The Committee, acting in conjunction with the Library Committee, 

 have had under consideration the question of the fusion of the two 

 Committees. In many respects this would perhaps be desirable, but it 

 would be more practicable if the source of income for each Institution 

 were the same. They came to the unanimous conclusion to recommend 

 the Council to adopt the Museums Act, which would place both insti- 

 tutions on the same footing, and at the same time make no difference to 

 the expense. They hope the Council will see its viay to carry this 

 recommendation into effect at once. The Council may rely on the best 

 efforts of the Committee to maintain the Art Gallery in a proper state 

 of efficiency, and to do this in the most economical manner possible. 



