The Knighton-Hammond Charitable Trust is seeking a partner organisation to establish a permanent gallery for the display of works by the Nottingham artist, Arthur Henry Knighton-Hammond. Michael Hammond (the artist’s great nephew) and Peter Norris (the artist’s biographer and art historian) are intending to donate their collections via the Trust for the benefit of the people of Nottingham. There is also an opportunity to have a study centre equipped with an art history library, materials to set up an artist’s studio within the gallery for educational purposes and other museum quality fine art.
An approach to the University of Nottingham did not prove fruitful. At present an approach has been made to Nottingham City Council in the hope that they will have a suitable building and curatorial staff for the gallery. It has been established by Arts Council England that when introducing arts and culture into a city it can bring economic superpowers. We are hopeful that the City Council will recognise this and work with us and Arts Council England to provide a gallery and study centre for the people of Nottingham, the wider public, university students and schools.
There is little doubt the two collections have some of the best works produced by the artist and include pictures he exhibited at the Royal Academy, Paris Salon, Royal Institute of Oil Painters and many more.