Bristol fundraiser to buy lost JMW Turner painting passes £100k
No council funds are being used for the acquisition. All the money raised has come from individual donors and cultural supporters.If the council is successful, the painting will be added the Turner collection at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, where it will be accessible to the public for free. If it is unsuccessful, all donations made via the Crowdfunder will be refunded.
The piece was painted in 1972, when Turner was 17, and is the first oil painting ever exhibited by Turner. It is believed to be his only artwork depicting Bristol.Turner's signature was only discovered on the piece last year when the canvas was cleaned during a restoration project. Prior to that, it has been missing for 150 years.
Kate Newnham, senior curator of visual arts at the museum, said: "It's overwhelming to have received such an incredible and positive response from the people of Bristol and beyond."It just goes to show the importance of access to art and culture to everyone."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
15 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Australian actor Rebel Wilson sued by production company behind her own film
The legal drama surrounding The Deb, Rebel Wilson's directorial debut, has made landfall in Australia, with one of the production companies behind the venture filing a lawsuit against Wilson in the New South Wales supreme court this week. UK-based AI Film, represented by Australian legal firm Giles George and high-profile barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC, accused the Pitch Perfect Australian actor of deliberately sabotaging the film's release, alleging threats and defamatory claims had caused the production company financial and reputational damage. The suit also claims the motive behind Wilson's actions was to devalue the production's worth and pressure AI Film and Australian company Dunburn Debutantes Commissioning Company (DDCC – the entity managing the film's rights and named as the second plaintiff in the lawsuit) into selling their stake to Wilson's company Camp Sugar. Originally conceived as a quirky musical comedy celebrating Australian culture, The Deb was co-produced by AI Film and Camp Sugar, with Wilson directing and starring. But the partnership fractured in mid-2024 when Wilson took to Instagram to accuse fellow producers Amanda Ghost, Gregor Cameron and Vince Holden of alleged embezzlement, sexual misconduct and obstructing the film's release. The allegations, broadcast to Wilson's 11 million followers, were swiftly denied by the producers who began defamation proceedings against Wilson in the Los Angeles superior court last July. In November, the film's lead actor, Charlotte MacInnes, who Wilson claimed was the victim of the alleged sexual misconduct, filed a declaration in the US court stating that Wilson fabricated the claims, describing them as 'completely false and absurd'. The court subsequently threw out Wilson's bid to strike out the defamation suit, not accepting her lawyer's argument that under California's anti-Slapp laws, the accusations she had made against the producers of her The Deb constituted 'protected activity' and were a matter of public interest. That defamation case remains ongoing. After filing its lawsuit in the supreme court's equities division on Thursday, AI Film issued the following statement: 'These proceedings are regrettable but essential to ensure The Deb's timely release. It's a joyous, fun film, and we are sure that audiences are going to love it.' And MacInnes issued a second statement, saying: 'I love this film and I can't wait for it to be released … it would be wonderful if these proceedings can help make that happen.' Wilson's Californian legal team, Freedman Taitelman + Cooley, which is handling the defamation case, did not respond to the Guardian's request for comment. In its lawsuit filed this week, Giles George claims that on 5 January, Wilson's lawyer Bryan Freedman responded to correspondence by AI Film's legal team, saying that 'Wilson is currently in active discussions to outright purchase The Deb (the 'Film') and all associated rights and title'. The Freedman letter also threatened to 'pursue all claims and damages should Al Film or any agents acting on its behalf interfere with that business opportunity'. AI Film is alleging that Wilson's motivation behind her alleged undermining of distribution efforts, including making threats to seek an injunction against the film's release, was personal financial gain. AI Film's lawyers claim that on 6 June 2025, Wilson had a discussion with film distributor Kismet, who was bidding to secure the rights for the theatrical release of The Deb in Australia, during which she said words to the effect that she was supportive of Kismet as the Australian distributor of the film but while there was a legal case involving the film in the US she could not support the film's distribution and would seek an injunction if any attempts to distribute the film were made. Giles George alleges Wilson knew the legal proceedings in the US were not impeding the film's release, and knew the threat of injunction was against her and her company, Camp Sugar's, contractual obligations. But as evidence in Byran Freedman's correspondent to them in January, Wilson was delaying the film's release so that she could pursue the 'business opportunity' of buying all rights to the film outright. AI Film is seeking damages, a formal apology, corrective advertising and a permanent restraint on Wilson and her company making any further disparaging and incorrect claims relating to other companies and individuals involved in the making of The Deb, which have come to been know in legal circles as 'The Wilson Statements'.
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
Video game created to help young people's mental health
Game designers in Cornwall are part of a project to create a "serious" video game to help young people deal with adverse childhood experiences. The Ace of Hearts game deals with issues like bereavement, poverty and substance at the University of Falmouth worked with young people to design the game, which is part of a £35m UK-wide programme looking at the mental health of young of the developers said: "The main purpose of the game is to get people to talk about it afterwards." Ace of Hearts is part of a project called ATTUNE which is using varied arts-based methods, including gaming, to explore young people's experiences and understandings of mental health and the impact of negative 14, who attended a youth mental health event at Falmouth University, said: "I play Roblox and Minecraft with my friends and I play Fortnite with my dad."Some people have a negative view of gaming but that's old fashioned - older people haven't grown up with the games that we have - gaming is a really fun way of unwinding."I definitely think gaming can be used to help, especially when you meet new people. It can be easier to talk to them rather than professionals who you have to wait a long time for." Graham Smith is a software designer who works on the games development course at Falmouth said: "The main purpose of the game is to get people to talk about it afterwards."Mental health is a serious topic and anything you can do to help young people who are suffering is worth it."When you're dealing with mental health a lot of things can be triggering for a lot of people, so you have to be cautious and empathetic in how you deal with the topic."Technology is taking over and you have to go with the mediums that young people are using."It's not Call of Duty, we're here to make serious games with serious messages." 'Use every tool' Psychiatrist Prof Kamaldeep Bhui from Oxford University is one of the principal investigators on the ATTUNE said: "Half of mental illnesses have started by the age of 14 and three quarters by the age of 24 so it's vital we use every tool we can and games are something many young people feel safe using."Games can be a cause of harm or addiction for young people, but we also have to understand that it's a space where young people can be playful and a gaming platform is a place where some people don't feel alone." The ATTUNE project is part of the Adolescence, Mental Health and the Developing Mind Programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation and led by the Medical Research Council with the Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research programme runs until 2026 and will explore how mental health needs emerge in young people, what makes some more resilient or vulnerable than others, and how early intervention can help positive mental health and wellbeing.
BBC News
8 hours ago
- BBC News
Town's beloved cat stars in reimagined masterpieces
BBC A cat that was awarded the freedom of a town in the north of the Isle of Man has been immortalised in famous works of art. Thomas the cat was awarded the freedom of Ramsey last year, after being informally adopted by several retailers. He has been used as the subject for a number of reimagined classic works of art in an exhibition by Mannin Art group, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Twenty paintings which feature the famous feline resident have gone on display in various shop windows throughout the town. Wendy Turner from the art group came up with the idea for the trail and said she hopes it will encourage people from all around the island to visit Ramsey. The trail features a wide variety of reimagined classics, including Munch's The Scream, the Cat with the Pearl Earring, and Whisker's Mother. People are invited to walk around the town to try to spot all of the artworks hidden among shop window displays. Ms Turner said they were keen to do something special for the occasion and said they had "really enjoyed doing it". She also hoped the trail would encourage more people to the town and "attract business". She said it would take about an hour to find all the paintings in their various locations. "You can't tell me in that time that somebody isn't going to want a cup of coffee or a child isn't going to want an ice cream," she said. There are three pieces in St Paul's Square, which Ms Turner described as an "often forgotten area", in which they hoped to increase footfall through the trail. Chair of Mannin Art Tom Field said it also raised awareness of classic paintings, albeit with a feline twist: "Some of those paintings are well known... it might interest them in taking up painting too." Having only taken up painting and joining the group in 2020, he said it had become a big part of his life. He said: "Sometimes I can just sit and paint and focus on it, and it's very peaceful". As well as putting on the art trail, which runs until 22 August, there is also an exhibition of the group's work in St Paul's church hall to celebrate the milestone anniversary. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X.
