Bethlem Gallery artists, who have developed their work and careers with the gallery over three decades, are being recognised for the first time in an important contemporary art collection, with a celebratory festival open to all planned for next month.
Part of the collection: John O’Donnell, Open Behaviour, 1983 ©The Artist and Bethlem Gallery
Created by the gallery and supported by the Peter Sowerby Foundation, the new Bethlem Gallery Art Collection has an exhibition which runs until June 21, as well as having displays across Bethlem Royal Hospital, an online catalogue, a monthly programme of events and workshops.
The culmination is an artists’ festival in the beautiful grounds of the gallery on Saturday June 14.
The Bethlem Gallery is situated alongside Bethlem Royal Hospital in 240 acres of stunning grounds off Monks Orchard Road. Founded in 1997 to nurture artist opportunities for current and former pyschiatric patients, Bethlem Gallery has quietly evolved to become a valued space for artists and an influential independent charity renowned around the world.
Led since 2020 by Clore Fellow and director Sophie Leighton, today it provides both creative support and commercial representation to visiting as well as gallery artists.
“Until now, Bethlem Gallery’s important roles in artist studio support, representation and as a specialist institutional advisor, have been discreet,” Leighton said.
“The Bethlem Gallery has long-standing relationships with more than 200 artists who work in our studios or engage with our programme. And the gallery has worked with artists to produce more than 2,000 artworks since its founding in 1997.
“It’s time for Bethlem Gallery to claim its position as a leading independent voice for inclusive, experimental contemporary art, artists and ideas today.
“Our new collection, which focuses exclusively on the work of Bethlem Gallery artists, brings together everything we do and stand for, ensuring a future legacy for our artists, who are the beating heart of the Gallery. All are welcome to visit the exhibition, explore our new online catalogue, and join us for a free celebratory festival in the grounds next month.”
The Peter Sowerby Foundation was set up thanks to a generous endowment by a GP working in rural North Yorkshire, whose creativity and innovation led him to create the software behind EMIS – now the largest supplier of clinical software to GPs in the country. To date, the Peter Sowerby Foundation has awarded more than £10million to charities, community groups and healthcare providers, as well as to the Bethlem Gallery.
David Aspinall, the chair of the Peter Sowerby Foundation, said: “The Peter Sowerby Foundation is delighted to support the development of a new art collection managed by Bethlem Gallery. The collection aims to improve hospital and community environments, improve patient outcomes and open up conversations about mental health.
“We are excited to see it displayed on loan across many settings, where it will make a positive impact for years to come.”
It has taken the gallery 24 months to set up its founding collection, establishing a collection advisory board, made possible with further support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund. In all, 200 artworks have now been selected, 70 of which will go on display in this first presentation at the gallery.
The online catalogue will ensure the collection is accessible to artists, the hospital community, academics and the public globally for the first time.
Questions, questions: Mark Titchner, Some Questions About Us, 2019 ©The Artist and Bethlem Gallery
To accompany the free Bethlem Gallery Collection exhibition, a ticketed monthly programme of talks and workshops are planned, curated by artist Beth Hopkins in collaboration with the gallery.
Participation opportunities will culminate in the Bethlem Gallery Artists’ Festival in June. Highlights of the festival include: performances by Bethlem artists as well as by the Mind and Soul Choir, walks in the grounds and creative workshops.
In its public gallery spaces, the Bethlem Gallery presents four free exhibitions annually, accompanied by in-person and online talks, workshops and symposiums.
Both grounds and the gallery are open to the public free of charge, from Wednesday to Saturday, from 9.30am to 5pm (closed Bank Holidays and over Christmas).
The nearest rail stations are Eden Park, East Croydon or Bromley South. Pick up the Super Loop bus from Bromley South or East Croydon and get off at the Bethlem Hospital stop.
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