News from Turner’s House Trust – April 2020 – Happy Birthday Mr Turner!
Welcome to the Turner’s House Trust April 2020 Newsletter
We are so grateful for your many messages and offers of support whilst Sandycombe Lodge has had to close its doors. Thank you. We hope in turn that you and your loved ones are keeping safe in these uncertain times.
Happy Birthday, Mr Turner! Let’s celebrate the Sandycombe Years
J.M.W. Turner was born this month, on 23rd April 1775, in Covent Garden. He could never have foreseen what the world looks like now.
Nationally, the focus for the moment is quite rightly on front-line charities and services which are responding to those suffering as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. However increasingly, the country is recognising and preparing to address the long-term effects of the enforced social isolation post-lockdown.
In response, the charity world is mobilising on 26th April to raise awareness of the crucial role played by the sector in all aspects of UK life. Charities across the UK, including those from arts, heritage and culture, are coming together in a joint fundraising campaign focussed on what would have been the world’s biggest fundraising event, the Virgin Money London Marathon. The campaign is called The 2.6 Challenge and it starts on Sunday, the day the Marathon was supposed to take place.
As well as enabling visitors to experience the house Turner designed and lived in with his beloved dad away from the hectic environment of London, Turner’s House Trust has an active learning programme for young and old. We offer an important resource for local primary and secondary schools. We are keen to make sure we can still welcome the 300+ children who were looking forward to visiting the House this year. We also partner with local mental health and elderly focused organisations offering this peaceful house for tailored, supportive programmes – we expect the need for this to increase even more when we are able to reopen.
This is why Turner’s House Trust is joining The 2.6 Challenge and has registered with Virgin Money Giving, now linked to the website and accessible HERE. You can now use this link either to give a donation directly to Turner’s House Trust or to use your time at home to set up your own fundraising challenge to support us. Have you been inspired by Captain Tom Moore? A simple desire to say thank you and proof that age is no barrier. We have creativity on our side and the knowledge of how inspirational the story of Sandycombe Lodge is. Will you bake 26 Turner pies? Walk for 26 mins (indoors on a treadmill or outdoors) just as Turner’s dad used to walk into London to open the gallery? Paint cards for 26 neighbours? Can you get the children involved? Can you find all the buildings in London where Turner once lived or worked? We can’t wait to hear your ideas!
You can even raise money for up to five of your favourite charities at the same time. More information is here https://www.
As participants, our campaign total will be supplemented by a donation from the combined fund administered by the Charities Aid Foundation.
We know that in good times and bad, Turner’s House supporters want to help.
Circles of Support – the year starts when we re-open
If sponsored challenges are not for you, then the Patrons (£500pa) and Sandycombe Circles (£250pa) are ways of getting more involved with the work of the museum, especially to support the educational programmes and special exhibitions. We planned to phase out the original Supporters Circle (£95pa) – but, in response to feedback and the unprecedented situation in which we all now find ourselves, we are bringing it back into the Circles of Support Schemes for 2020 – our sincere thanks to all of you keen to join.
To thank you for your support, anyone who joins any of the Circle memberships in 2020 and whilst we are closed will have their membership dated from the day we re-open. So you could get 18 months for the price of 12 and you will not miss out on any of our events!
Please click HERE to join.
As you know, Sandycombe Lodge was a place of refuge for J.M.W. Turner and his father. We want to keep it that way for everyone, and we can’t wait to welcome you back when it is safe to do so.
With your help, we will not just survive, but also thrive and grow.
Turner’s House is on YouTube!
In case you have a quiet moment in lockdown we have created the Turner’s House Trust YouTube channel to provide you with some entertainment.
Here’s the link: https://www.youtube.com/
It’s free to subscribe to and we will add more videos overtime including the wonderful 10-minute talks by our volunteers. If you have any suggestions of what else you would like to see please let Rita know on Learning@turnershouse.org.
Best wishes,
Turner’s House Team