Jan van Huysum Visits
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Lincoln food bank latest stop for National Gallery Jan Van Huysum Visits tour

Image: © National Gallery/Twitter

Flowers in a Terracotta Vase (1736–7) has today gone on display at Bridge Community Hub food bank in Lincoln, the fourth of sixth unconventional venues which make up the National Gallery’s Jan van Huysum Visits outreach programme.

The painting will be on view at the site until 26th June 2021, with community craft sessions being run at the venue throughout the week to coincide with the temporary exhibition.

National Gallery chose the food bank in the south of Lincoln to host the artwork as it offers vital services to local families and vulnerable individuals, whether that is by providing food parcels, community engagement programmes or a library service.

Mike Fowler, team leader at Bridge Community Hub, says he and his colleagues “can’t wait for our food bank guests to see the painting and for people who love art to maybe see their first food bank up close”.

The city’s Collection Museum has collaborated with the National Gallery to create a specially themed creative pack that will be available to the public both at the Bridge Community Hub and other food banks in the area.

Aligning with the theme of ‘Give’ – one of the six ‘Ways to Wellbeing’ explored on each stop of the Jan Van Huysum Visits tour – the kits contain materials to craft one felted flower for the maker and another to give as a gift to a friend.

Also designed to boost local engagement, a literary and poetry resource related to the display has been created near two primary schools in close proximity to the Bridge food bank.

“Art is such an enabler – for conversations, for inspiration and for learning,” notes Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive member for culture at Lincolnshire County Council.

“Covid has been hard for so many, so I know this pop-up exhibition will go a long way in connecting with new audiences – making a real difference to mental health and wellbeing. I’m delighted we could help make it happen.”

Unexpected locations in Scotland and Northern Ireland are now the two remaining calling points on this summer’s Jan Van Huysum Visits.