Refurbished, re-configured, restored and re-hung, visitors will once again be able to experience the stunning collection of William De Morgan’s ceramics and Evelyn De Morgan’s paintings – the largest collection of each anywhere in the world. The Centre, at 38 West Hill SW18, reopens on September 16th.
 
While William De Morgan was the most important ceramicist of the Arts and Crafts Movement and a close friend and collaborator of William Morris, his wife Evelyn was a talented and acclaimed artist and symbolist painter.
 
Together they were actively involved in a number of social movements of their day - including prison reform and women’s suffrage - and so the Centre is also a rich resource for students of late 19th Century art, social and political history.
 
Once again the Centre will host a lively and wide ranging programme of temporary exhibitions, many featuring the work of contemporary crafts-people thus promoting craft education and the best craft practices of today. The aim of the centre is to ensure that the Arts and Crafts Movement goes on into the future and that the Centre remains a focus of relevance and interest.
 
For the re-opening, there will be an exhibition of Fine Cell’s work in the re-designed temporary exhibition space.  The charity trains prisoners in highly skilled and paid needlework, using William De Morgan’s tile designs for many of their cushion ranges. The De Morgan Centre has had a long-standing relationship with Fine Cell Work and now once again visitors will have a chance to see and purchase from a range of cushions, bags and small items.
 
The De Morgan Centre is re-opening alongside the Wandsworth Museum which launched in 2010. The two small independent museums will support each other by sharing expertise and resources such as a fabulous cafe.  Co-existing in the same building, we aim to provide an exciting and varied visitor destination in the heart of Wandsworth.

September 13, 2011