Imagine that a benevolent art-loving fairy godmother grants you free entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses across the UK. How would you make the most of her gift?
For Charlotte Patmore, a photographer who has toured the world shooting musicians for album covers and magazines, having a National Art Pass (which really exists – no fairy godmother necessary) has inspired her to engage with art much more frequently than ever before. What’s more, impromptu gallery visits with friends are just as feasible as embarking on planned solo visits.
“I’ve been using my National Art Pass on the spur of the moment as it makes popping into an exhibition so easy,” she says. “I still use it a lot on my own – because I really savour those solo moments in galleries – but there have been several exhibitions that I’ve popped along to spontaneously with friends, which has been such a treat every time.”
Art Fund is a charity that supports museums, galleries and historic places across the UK, and runs a membership programme called National Art Pass, which gives members free entry to more than 250 museums, and 50% off the full price of admission at major exhibitions. This June, the National Art Pass is offering a National Art Pass trial membership that costs £15 for three months, followed by annual membership for half the usual price.
A National Art Pass makes access to art more affordable, but Patmore says the money-saving aspect of her membership is so much more than a pleasant perk – she feels it actually enriches her encounters with art that she might not otherwise choose to see. Recent gallery highlights for Patmore include the Taylor Wessing Photo Portrait Prize 2023 at the National Portrait Gallery, and Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. “There is nothing more satisfying than stunning architecture, and the documentary was really beautiful,” she says. Another National Portrait Gallery highlight was Francesca Woodman and Julia Margaret Cameron: Portraits to Dream In. “It was so beautiful and ethereal, and it was interesting to see how the work of two artists, who lived a century apart, reflect and inform each other when seen side by side. It also has huge cyanotypes in it, which inspired me to get back into tactile photography practices, especially now the sunshine is here.”
A National Art Pass membership has also enabled Patmore to share her love of art with her daughter. “I took her to the Yoko Ono exhibit at the Tate recently,” she says. “It’s really interactive so we played chess for hours, drew on the walls and got to sit and listen to her records. It’s fun to be part of the art; sometimes it’s more comforting when you’re a part of it rather than just perceiving it.”
A visual artist and designer for more than 10 years, Daniel Dzonu Clarke works with ceramics, painting and textiles and, thanks to his National Art Pass, has recently discovered artists and artwork that he wasn’t familiar with before. On a recent trip to Cornwall, Clarke was delighted to discover that he was entitled to 50% off the price of admittance to Tate St Ives and the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden.
“The Sculpture Garden at the Barbara Hepworth Museum is really beautiful, it’s just a nice place to hang out, really serene and relaxing with the sound of seagulls and the ocean intertwined with the art. Whereas standing in an exhibition can be overwhelming, here you can sit on a bench and close your eyes and you’re in no rush to move around.”
Clarke feels his National Art Pass membership has broadened his horizons in terms of art he knows and likes, opening up “a whole new world of art” to him. But it’s not just beneficial for those who love art and enjoy seeing it in person. “If you struggle to go to galleries and exhibitions, a National Art Pass is a really good way of motivating yourself to make it happen and get the most out of membership,” he says. “I’ve even started using the National Art Pass website more often, not just as a reference for exhibitions I’m interested in, but as a way of keeping up to date with what’s happening in the world of art.”
That’s a sentiment also expressed by Patmore. “It’s so valuable, a National Art Pass makes art and culture slot into your life with no need to always plan ahead,” she says. “I use my National Art Pass much more than I expected to because so many places accept it. I really appreciate being able to integrate art into whatever else I’m up to. The freedom to pop into a gallery or a museum free of charge can turn a rainy Sunday into a fun adventure.”
The National Art Pass lets you see more, for less. Sign up for a three-month trial membership for just £15 at artfund.org/national-art-pass
