The Friends wish to support the development and improvement of Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Social History based at Cusworth Hall as well as the Doncaster Archives, and to enable them to update and expand their collections.
Last year, Doncaster Museums and their grounds received over 140,000 visitors primarily from Doncaster and the surrounding areas. The Friends work mainly to raise funds for direct purchases and also offer matched funding when the Museums Service approaches major funders.
The Friends also support educational services based at the Museums to help local people gain an understanding of the visual arts, as well as science and technology activities.
Recently we led on raising money to ensure the conservation of three paintings donated to the museum by the Brazilian Government in recognition of Doncaster’s contribution during the Second World War. Members of the Committee each made generous a donation to the conservation costs as did an anonymous donor and the Brazilian Embassy. This ensured that the paintings could be included in a national exhibition in London which was part of the Centenary celebrations of the formation of the Royal Air Force, before being returned to Doncaster.
Members of our Friends group come from across the borough and from all walks of life and we keep the annual subscription as low as possible. Membership is avaliable to everyone, and we aim to have a diverse and vibrant membership As well as fundraising our members also provide refreshments and logistical support for major events at Doncaster Museum and Art Gallery such as the Annual Open Art Exhibition, and individual members have made generous donations.
To fund this membership, the committee of the Friends of the Doncaster Museums have embarked on an ambitious fundraising campaign with a series of talks by speakers such as Gervase Phinn, the bestselling author, and Egyptologist Professor Joann Fletcher.
When the present museum was opened, the Contemporary Arts Society donated the bulk of the present sculpture collection. Doncaster has never had a major donor who was able or willing to expand the Fine Art Collection. Its current collection has been amassed by strenuous volunteer fundraising in collaboration with the museum team.
In 2020, the Friends have lined up a number of high profile speakers, and these will be held at the CAST Theatre during the period when the Museum is closed, whilst the new museum is being built.
See the events page for more details