Rarely displayed artwork to be showcased online

Southampton City Art Gallery has secured a £26,000 grant from Arts Council England

Hundreds of pieces of art will soon be made available online as part of a gallery's plans to preserve its collection.

While most oil paintings and sculptures at Southampton City Art Gallery's have already been digitised, its paper artwork collection is yet to be electronically mapped.

About 1,000 pictures will be digitally recorded, using a £26,000 grant from Arts Council England.

Due to their light-sensitive nature, the paper works are rarely displayed, and there is currently no public catalogue or detailed listing.

Lorna Fielker, leader of Southampton City Council, said the authority had been "thrilled" to receive the grant.

"Culture is fundamental to shaping our vision of this wonderful city, and we need to keep investing in our nationally important cultural assets to increase public access," she added.

Among the works planned to be digitised is Farewell Farewell One Kiss and I'll Descend by Sir Frank Dicksee

Phil Gibby from Arts Council England said: "We know museums and galleries provide a vital space for the public to discover the past, engage with the present, and imagine new possibilities for the future."

"The same is true online and once digitised, each work will be preserved for both local and international audiences to enjoy," he added.

The project, which is being carried out in partnership with Southampton Solent University, is due to be finished by early 2026.

Its completion will coincide with the end of refurbishment works at the gallery.

It is hoped the digitised images will be used to maintain the gallery’s visibility, with virtual exhibitions being run on its website.