SCOTTISH NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY INVITES
SUPPORTERS TO JOIN ITS GALLERY OF STARS
The National Galleries of
Scotland will this week launch a unique fundraising initiative, in support of
Portrait of the Nation, the ambitious project to refurbish and redefine the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Gallery of Stars will give the public the chance to
associate their name (or that of a loved one) with a very special element in this remarkable building's decorative scheme. At the heart of the initiative is William Hole's beautifully detailed
mural mapping the night sky, painted in the late 1890s, which decorates the ceiling of the Gallery's magnificent entrance hall. >From Friday 2 October, visitors to the National Galleries'
website (www.nationalgalleries.org/stars)
will be able to navigate their way amongst the 47 constellations,
comprising 2222 individual stars, contained within Hole's vision of the
firmament, and claim for themselves their own little piece of heaven.
In
the months since the Portrait Gallery closed its doors, in preparation
for a £17.6 million refurbishment that will transform both the building
and the way its world-famous collection is displayed, William Hole's
ceiling has been painstakingly photographed and mapped. A special
graphic has been prepared for the website, which renders Hole's scheme
in detail, and makes it possible to zoom in on constellations, and to
isolate specific stars, each of which has been given a unique number.
Supporters of
Gallery of Stars will
be able to use this facility to reserve stars with a particular,
personal significance, perhaps relating to their birth-sign, or to a
constellation named for a favourite mythological hero or creature. Hole,
a keen amateur astronomer, designed the ceiling to represent a zenith
map of the stars of the northern hemisphere, projected to correspond
with the space available. The stars are picked out in gold against the
dark night sky, whilst mythical representations of the various
constellations are painted a paler blue, helping to identify the twelve
signs of the zodiac and familiar figures such as Orion, the Great Bear
and Pegasus. The ceiling is populated with many figures from Greek
myth, including Andromenda, her parents Cassiopeia and Cepheus, and her
husband, Perseus.
It
also features the water-serpent Hydra, his brother Draco, and the stern
and sails of Jason's famous ship, the Argo. Among the menagerie of
animal constellations are a hare, dolphin, four dogs, an eagle, fox,
swan and horse's head. More exotic beasts include Camelopardus (the
Giraffe) and a unicorn.
Across
the ceiling, the stars vary in magnitude just as they do in reality,
and will be divided into categories of small, medium and large,
corresponding to donations of £250, £500 and £750 respectively. In
recognition of their generosity, supporters of
Gallery of Stars will
receive a limited-edition certificate that illustrates the position of
their chosen star. In addition, their name and star will be recorded
in the Gallery when it re-opens in 2011, as well as on the NGS website.
Donors will be able to select stars for themselves, or purchase them as
gifts, perhaps to celebrate the birth of a child, a birthday, wedding,
or to commemorate the life of a loved one.
Donations may be spread across a period of three years, bringing the cost of buying a star to as little
as £6.95 per month. In addition to the website (www.nationalgalleries.org/stars), supporters can reserve a star, request a donation form, or simply get more information about
Gallery of Stars and Portrait of the Nation by calling 0131 624 6459.
Portrait of the Nation is the £17.6 million project to renovate and rejuvenate the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, in
Edinburgh. It
will
involve the repair, conservation and creative adaptation of this
magnificent Arts and Crafts building, which opened in 1889 as the first
purpose-built national portrait gallery in the world.
Starting from an urgent need to restore the building, the project aims to forge an innovative and exciting new gallery.
Portrait of the Nation will
double the amount of gallery space within the building, and will
reinvent the way in which the national collection is displayed. The
project will also create a range of enhanced visitor facilities,
including an education suite, a resource
and learning centre, enhanced dining and retail areas. All of this
will be underpinned by an innovative and far-reaching events programme.
The Gallery collection will be presented in a reinvigorated and more engaging way, illustrating the
richness of Scotland's
history and culture with a dynamic and extensive exhibition programme
with a new emphasis on photography and Scottish art. The regularly
changing exhibitions and increased number of works on display will
ensure that there will always be something new to see.
Major funders of
Portrait of the Nation include
the Scottish Government, which announced a contribution of £5.1 million
in December 2007, and the Heritage Lottery Fund, which confirmed its
grant of £4.5 million in March 2009.
Portrait of the Nation will
re-open to the public in autumn 2011.
National Galleries of
Scotland is a charity registered in
Scotland (No. SC003728)
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