7 



REPORT 



OF THE 



CORPORATION ART GALLERY COMMITTEE. 



For the Year ending September 2gth, i88y. 



THE Art Gallery Committee have much pleasure in presenting 

 their Fifth Annual Report, and are glad to be able to state 

 that the appreciation of the Gallery by the public is steadily on 

 the increase. The Gallery has been open 264 days during the 

 past year, of which 43 have been free. The attendance on the 

 free days has been 14,673, or a daily average of 341 ; by payment 

 15,477; average, 70 daily, making a total of 30,150 visitors, against 

 28,326 last year. The Committee regard with pleasure the large 

 attendance on the free days, and would be very glad if financial 

 considerations permitted the extension of the privilege. 



The Committee find much gratification in the fact that the 

 deficiency in their funds is much less this year than last, amounting 

 only to iT'95) against ^303 in 1S86, and this without the 

 Institution having suffered at all either in interest or efficiency. 

 Every care has been exercised in the management, and the 

 Committee think that the Institution can scarcely be worked more 

 cheaply, and that while present conditions are maintained, the above 

 amount will represent about the average annual cost to the town 

 in time to come. They are persuaded that the advantages to the 

 town in possessing such an Institution in its midst, maintained at 

 such a small cost, can scarcely be over rated. 



The Autumn Exhibition last year extended from November 6th 

 to February 19th, and was attended by 10,160 visitors. There was 

 a successful Art Union in connection with it, and the picture sales 

 were about normal. 



The Spring Exhibition consisted of pictures by Local Artists, 

 and a loan collection. For the latter the Committee are indebted 

 to Mr. H. H. Bemrose, and Mr. W. Naylor, who kindly lent a 

 large portion of the pictures from the collection of the late Mrs. 

 Walters, also to Messrs. Bemrose and Sons; and to Mr. E. Wilson. 

 The Exhibition was open from March 5th to June 4th, and was 

 visited by 8241 visitors. 



