An art collection at Cambridge University’s Murray Hall College will be changing its name back to The Women’s Art Collection to ‘better promote the work of women artists.’
The collection is currently called The New Hall Art Collection, and the name change will come into effect from April 20. The Murray Hall College is a college for women at the University of Cambridge, ‘with a focus on outstanding young women, their learning and skills for life.’
College president Dorothy Byrne said: ‘The percentage of works by women in public galleries is shamefully low. This is one of the main reasons why there is still a need for a collection of art solely by women.’
‘Nothing else like the collection exists in Cambridge or elsewhere in the country and I think it’s an absolute travesty that so few people even know of its existence,’ she continued on to say.
The college is partnering with the London Art Fair ‘to make the collection better known.’
The New Hall Art Collection is publicly accessible and free to visit. In 2018, it received accreditation from Arts Council England.
In 1986, the collection was established with the acquisition of a series of works by American artist Mary Kelly. It now features over five hundred pieces of artwork which are on display in the College and its gardens.
The collection’s website writes that their aim is ‘to champion artists who identify as women, to give them visibility and a voice, and promote their work within the ethos of an academic college for women dedicated to gender equality.’
They also aim to be an active resource for artists, researchers, academics, curators, and museum professionals in order to ‘generate greater understanding and knowledge of the work of artists who identify as women.’
‘The College has no gallery and the works are displayed all around the College buildings. The placement of works therefore needs to take into consideration the College’s fundamental purpose as a place of education, learning and research, as well as a place where our students live,’ the website states.