University Collections Assistant awarded prestigious Research Fellowship
Laura Millward, Collections Assistant at The Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery, has been awarded one of only three Understanding British Portrait Fellowships.
Understanding British Portraits is a national network for art professionals. It supports the promotion of portraits with the aim ‘to enhance the knowledge and understanding of portraits in all media in British collections, for the benefit of future research, exhibitions, interpretation, display and learning programmes.’
The Fellowship programme gives the Fellows the opportunity to extend their research skills, portrait expertise and to deliver a significant outcome that will benefit their organisation and its audience.
University Art Curator, Layla Bloom, said: “This Fellowship is a prestigious award which will enable the further understanding of the University’s collections. Laura is a fantastic Collections Assistant, and this will give her the opportunity to research a topic important to Leeds.”
The Professional Research Fellowship has been given to Laura to facilitate the research of two portraits by artist John Russell, currently on display in The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery.
Laura Millward said: “The project will focus on the portraits of the Leeds industrialist John Marshall and his wife Jane by John Russell. I envisage the outcome of my research culminating in the form of a new interpretation panel, displayed next to the portraits of John and Jane and a guide for visitors to take away and discover more about the Marshalls and their links to the University and the city. I will also be working alongside contemporary artists and poets as part of a larger project, linked to the University’s Public Art Project.
The University campus is home to an extensive range of public art, the Public Art Project aims to make these works on campus more visible and accessible to everyone. The Public Art programme for 2016 focuses on the University's rich textile heritage.
“I was delighted to hear my application for the Research and Professional Fellowship through the Understanding British Portrait Network’s bursary programme was successful”, said Laura. “I’m grateful to my colleagues for their support. I am very much looking forward to starting the project and hope the outcomes will be enjoyed by many visitors to The Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery.”
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